A Palm Beach County couple has filed a lawsuit against a local ophthalmologist and healthcare provider, alleging severe medical negligence that led to permanent vision loss. Robin Stanley and her husband, Robert Stanley, initiated the complaint on August 29, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, targeting Dr. William Martin and Visual Health and Surgical Center, Inc.
The lawsuit centers around cataract surgery performed by Dr. Martin on Robin Stanley's right eye on August 16, 2022. According to the complaint, Robin Stanley had pre-existing symptoms of glaucoma that were ignored during her treatment at Visual Health. In the months following the surgery, she experienced elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), blurred vision, floaters, and pain in her right eye. Despite these alarming symptoms and her history of glaucoma, no adequate evaluation or timely referral to a glaucoma specialist was made.
"Despite clear and obvious signs of progressive glaucoma," the complaint states, "nothing was done to evaluate Plaintiff for her worsening condition by the healthcare professionals at Visual Health." It further alleges that critical diagnostic tests such as visual field assessments or cup-to-disc ratio documentation were not performed during follow-up visits.
The plaintiffs claim that it wasn't until November 15, 2022—several months after the initial surgery—that Dr. Goldberg from Visual Health recommended an evaluation by a glaucoma specialist. By then, Robin Stanley was diagnosed with end-stage glaucoma—a severe condition characterized by high IOP leading to irreversible optic nerve damage and significant vision loss.
Robin Stanley is now legally blind in her right eye due to what she describes as gross negligence on the part of Dr. Martin and Visual Health. The lawsuit details multiple breaches of duty by Dr. Martin including failure to adequately evaluate high intraocular pressures indicative of progressing glaucoma and failure to recognize the severity of harm caused by untreated glaucoma post-cataract surgery.
As a result of this alleged negligence, Robin Stanley claims extensive physical and emotional suffering: "Ms. Stanley suffers from blindness in her right eye...has suffered psychological and emotional damages...and has lost the capacity for enjoyment of life." The complaint also highlights financial burdens due to medical expenses and loss of income.
Robert Stanley's claim focuses on loss of consortium—asserting that his wife's injuries have deprived him of her services, comfort, society, and attention both presently and into the future.
The plaintiffs seek judgment against both defendants for all damages proximately caused by their negligence including costs associated with medical care and other justifiable damages deemed necessary by the court. They are demanding a trial by jury.
Representing the Stanleys are attorneys Theodore S. Forman (Florida Bar No. 886564) and Sharon Bidka Urbanek (Florida Bar No. 696803) from Forman Law Offices P.A., located in Delray Beach, Florida.
Judge presiding over this case is yet to be named under Case ID: 502024CA008259XXXAMB Div: AG.