Yes. If your eye cancer was misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late due to negligent care, you may be entitled to claim compensation from the NHS. This could involve a GP failing to refer you, an optometrist missing signs during a routine eye test, or delays in acting on scan results.

The situation may be different for an optician, who will likely be privately indemnified and the claim will need to be referred to their indemnifiers, rather than the NHS in such circumstances.

If this caused harm, such as avoidable vision loss, more intensive treatment, or reduced life expectancy, you could have a case. These claims are handled by NHS Resolution, which acts on behalf of NHS Trusts and is funded by the public. Or, as stated above, the practitioner’s private indemnifiers.

Compensation depends on how the misdiagnosis or delay affected your condition and daily life. A successful claim may cover:

• General damages: for the pain, trauma and loss of vision or independence
• Special damages: including lost earnings, medical treatment, home adaptations or care needs

In more serious cases, such as where the cancer spread due to late diagnosis or resulted in permanent blindness, six-figure settlements are possible. We work with medical experts to ensure your compensation reflects your full future needs.

Yes, you can claim on someone’s behalf if they:

• Are under 18 and unable to bring a claim themselves
• Do not have the mental capacity to manage legal matters
• Have sadly died as a result of negligent diagnosis or treatment

We will guide you through the process, whether you’re a parent, spouse or next of kin, and ensure the claim is handled with professionalism and compassion.

Like all cancers, eye cancer must be detected and treated as early as possible. A delay in diagnosis or inappropriate treatment can result in the tumour growing, spreading, or causing irreversible damage to vision or surrounding tissue. In some cases, the delay can have life-threatening consequences.

You may be entitled to make a claim if your condition worsened because an optometrist, GP or specialist failed to identify signs of eye cancer or refer you for urgent tests. We regularly handle claims involving late diagnosis. If earlier action could have made a difference to your prognosis or treatment options, we’ll help you understand your rights and what support is available.

A false diagnosis of eye cancer can be deeply distressing. You may have undergone unnecessary tests, treatment or even surgery — such as enucleation (removal of the eye) — with life-changing consequences. Even if the error was later corrected, the emotional impact, disruption to your life, and physical harm may still be significant. If this misdiagnosis was due to negligence, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Research revealed the startling finding that 4 out of every 10 people diagnosed with cancer have been misdiagnosed at least once before the disease was correctly identified.

While exact figures vary depending on the study and cancer type, research consistently shows that a significant proportion of cancer cases are initially missed, mistaken for something else, or diagnosed later than they should be.