Medical malpractice litigation in ophthalmology: the New Jersey experience.

One hundred twenty-one medical malpractice claims against ophthalmologists are analyzed with respect to the specific allegation, the ophthalmic cause of litigation, and disposition. Failure or delay in diagnosis was responsible for 35% of claims and 63% of patient indemnification. Allegations of failure to diagnose most commonly concerned retinal detachment. While an identical number of claims were closed with payment because of errors in treatment, the indemnity for these claims was less by a factor of nearly half. The greatest number of claims alleging negligent treatment involved complications of cataract surgery.