Eye surgeon on misconduct charge

An eye surgeon's conduct has been found to have been inappropriate and unprofessional after a procedure left a children's author with a torn cornea.

Jan Fearnley suffers blurred vision after the damage occurred during laser surgery carried out in 2005 at the Ultralase Clinic in Guildford, Surrey.

Dr Haralabos Eleftheriadis has been charged with misconduct by the General Medical Council (GMC).

He could be struck off the medical register following the ruling.

Dr Eleftheriadis admitted five out of eight allegations at a hearing on Thursday.

The remaining three charges were proven in fact by a GMC Fitness to Practise panel.

Corrective operations

The surgeon gained qualifications in the field of ophthalmology in Greece in 1989, and had previously presented evidence of having a "very good" safety record in performing Lasik procedures.

But he had to abandon his treatment of Mrs Fearnley in April 2005 when a hole, known as a buttonholed flap, appeared in her cornea.

She has undergone two operations to try to correct the damage but her vision remains blurred.

The GMC could now remove Dr Eleftheriadis from the medical register, meaning he would not be able to practise.

Alternatively, he could be suspended, have conditions placed on his registration, or just receive a warning.

He has been registered with the GMC since 1997 and currently works as a locum staff grade ophthalmologist in Southend, Essex.