To analyze the characteristics of medical disputes relating to ophthalmology for prevention in advance.

Retrospective analyses of ophthalmic cases applied for Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency between June 2013 and September 2016.

A total of 41 cases were analyzed. The number of cases relating to cataract were 19 (46.3%), refractive surgery 4 (9.8%), anterior segment 4 (9.8%), retina 7 (17.1%), oculoplasty 3 (7.3%), glaucoma 2 (4.9%), and miscellaneous 2 (4.9%). The specialty with the lowest mean payment of mediation per case was cataract (￦3,591,700), which has the largest number of cases, and oculoplasty was the highest mean payment per case (￦21,933,000). There were 16 cases confirmed as negligence by authenticators. Among these 16 cases, 7 (44%) were related to accident during surgery or procedure, 5 cases (31%) were insufficient explanation, and 4 cases (25%) were lack of tests which should have be performed before or after surgery. The results of mediation were agreement in 25 cases (61%), decision made by mediation department in 6 cases (15%), 7 cases were not adequate to mediate (17%), and 3 cases were canceled (7%).

The number of cases associated with cataract was the largest. Among negligence of doctors, cases during surgery were most common, suggesting the need to explain surgical factors such as complications or side effects and the need for complete surgical records. If a medical dispute occurs, the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency can be used to achieve an agreement.