SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) – A man claims he is now blind because Kaiser doctors missed a tumor that was causing him vision problems, in a lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court.

            Edwin Cornelia and his wife, Maria, sued Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, and Kaiser Permanente for medical malpractice.

            Cornelia says he was treated at Kaiser for approximately five years for complaints of vision difficulties, but the doctors did not realize his problems were caused by a tumor.

            The tumor was "allowed to grow in size to such an extent as to cause serious and permanent injury to plaintiff, including permanent legal blindness and deformation,” the complaint states.

            Thanks to Kaiser, Cornelia says, he can no longer work and will have to spend extra money on additional medical services for the foreseeable future.

            The couple seeks general damages, reimbursement for medical and housekeeping expenses, and for loss of consortium.

            They are represented by Richard Cohn with Aitkin, Aitkin and Cohn.