Those of us who take prescription drugs to treat a medical condition rely on the pharmacist to provide us with the proper medicine at the correct dosage. A negligent pharmacist who provides the wrong drug, or makes another medication error, puts his or her customers at serious risk of harm.

Besides the fact that the unfortunate patient is not getting the medicine he or she needs, he or she could actually suffer from unwanted side effects from the incorrect drug. Such is the case with a man who was blinded in one eye by drops that were meant for ear problems, according to a medical malpractice lawsuit he has filed against drug store chain CVS Pharmacy.

In 2012, the man developed conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, in at least one of his eyes. He went to the hospital for treatment, and was prescribed eye drops.

He took the prescription to a CVS location to be filled. The package he received would be confusing to many people. It said it contained neomycin-polymyxin-HC, a technical name for a type of ear drop solution. That is a medicine that experts specifically caution against putting in your eyes. The package says it contains “EAR SOLN,” but also instructed the plaintiff to “INSTILL 3 DROPS IN EACH EYE TWICE DAILY FOR 5 DAYS.”

The first time he used the drops, the man experienced immediate pain in his left eye. He was rushed back to the hospital, but it was too late to save the vision in the eye.

The plaintiff, now 65, was dealing with several health issues before this incident, and had a caretaker. But he was quite independent before being partially blinded, the caretaker said. Today, he is much more reliant on her for help, due to chronic pain and trouble with depth perception.

Sadly, this sort of reduction in quality of life and ability to take care of oneself is common after becoming the victim of medical malpractice.

Source: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, “Man claims CVS mistake cost him his sight,” Kevin Reece, June 20, 2014