Alleged ophthalmic malpractice
Claims involving surgical and medical management of eye disease, including cataract and refractive procedures, retinal disease, glaucoma management and postoperative care.
Experience
Representative Medical-Legal Experience
Dr. Shomer has provided ophthalmology consultation in plaintiff and defense matters involving alleged ophthalmic malpractice, ocular injury, visual loss, causation, disability and standard-of-care questions. His experience includes medical-record review, report preparation, deposition testimony and courtroom testimony.
This medical-legal work spans more than 13 years, alongside his continuing clinical practice. Because active practice and medical-legal work reinforce each other, opinions on the standard of care reflect contemporary practice rather than recollection, and evaluation of imaging and testing reflects daily familiarity with the same equipment.
Prior engagement in a matter does not imply endorsement of either plaintiff or defense positions. Opinions are based on the available evidence and the physician's independent medical judgment.
Categories of matters
The categories below describe the types of matters in which Dr. Shomer has consulted. Case names, party identities, confidential details and outcomes are not published.
Ocular trauma
Blunt, penetrating and chemical injuries to the eye and orbit arising from workplace incidents, assaults, motor vehicle collisions, falls and product-related events.
Visual impairment and disability
Objective measurement and rating of visual acuity loss, visual field loss and functional vision impairment for compensation and damages purposes.
Criminal matters involving vision or ophthalmic evidence
Questions of visual capacity, ophthalmic injury and the interpretation of ocular findings in criminal proceedings.
Workers' compensation eye complaints
Industrial eye injury and exposure claims, including evaluation as a California Qualified Medical Evaluator.
Surgical standard-of-care disputes
Whether operative and perioperative decisions and management fell within the range of reasonable ophthalmic practice.
Causation analysis
Whether claimed visual loss is attributable to a specific incident or treatment, to pre-existing disease, or to natural progression.
Independent ophthalmic examinations
Complete ophthalmic evaluation with diagnostic testing performed for medical-legal purposes rather than treatment.
Record review and chronology
Systematic review of complete ophthalmic records and construction of dated, source-cited clinical timelines.
Deposition and trial support
Deposition testimony, courtroom testimony, and consultation on opposing expert reports and examination strategy.
Scope of testimony experience
Experience includes deposition testimony and testimony in court. Not every engagement proceeds to testimony — many matters resolve after record review or report, and some conclude when a preliminary review indicates the medical evidence does not support the theory advanced. No representation is made that any engagement resulted in testimony or in a particular outcome, and past engagements do not guarantee any result.
Confidentiality
Details of specific engagements, including party names, counsel, case captions and outcomes, are confidential and are not published on this website. Counsel evaluating whether to retain Dr. Shomer may request additional information about relevant experience through the inquiry form, subject to applicable confidentiality obligations.
Independence
Dr. Shomer accepts carefully selected plaintiff and defense engagements. He does not hold himself out as an advocate for either side, and his opinions are formed independently after review of the relevant facts, records, examination findings and applicable medical literature. Where the evidence does not support the retaining party's position, counsel is told directly.
Educational information only. This page provides general information for attorneys and other medical-legal professionals. It is not medical or legal advice, does not address any particular case, and does not create a physician-patient, attorney-client, or expert-client relationship. Opinions in any matter are formed only after review of the specific records, examination findings, and applicable literature. Past engagements do not guarantee any result.
Authored and reviewed by Marc H. Shomer, MD, PhD, QME
Board-certified ophthalmologist; Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC; active California Qualified Medical Evaluator. Full biography · Curriculum vitae
Published August 2, 2026 · Last substantive review August 2, 2026 · Medical reviewer: Marc H. Shomer, MD, PhD, QME
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