Services
What is a Veterinary Ophthalmologist?
Veterinary medicine has progressed to the point of having specialist fields similar to those in human medicine. A Veterinary Ophthalmologist is a veterinary eye specialist, in other words a veterinarian who has specialsied in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the eyes of animals.
To register as a veterinary specialist in a particular field, rigorous and stringent criteria have to be met in terms of post-graduate training and passing of relevant examinations for specialst qualifications.
When does your pet need an Ophthalmologist?
When your animal has an eye problem which, due to its complex, protracted or delicate nature, requires specialist ocular equipment or expertise for diagnosis, medical treatment or surgery.
Most cases seen by a Veterinary ophthalmologist are referred by a general veterinary practitioner. Your usual veterinarian will generally provide an initial eye examination and suggest whether referral to an eye specialist is indicated.
Referral of a difficult ophthalmic case demonstrates your veterinarian's concern for your animal's welfare and his/her ability to identify conditions which will benefit from specialsied diagnosis and treatment.
What does an appointment involve?
- Initially all the relevant details of the patient’s medical history will be reviewed with the client.
- An eye examination similar to that performed in humans follows, but not with eye charts and spectacles!
- Specialist eye examination equipment is used to make a thorough and complete assessment of both eyes.
- A diagnosis is made and where applicable the pros and cons of available treatment options are discussed.
- A joint decision is made with the client on the most suitable course of action for their animal’s eye problem.
- A report is made promptly to the client’s usual veterinarian to keep him/her fully informed on how the eye condition is being treated and managed.
Clinical Services at VOR
We are able to provide the following specialised Ophthalmic Services:
- Consultations and eye examinations for problem eye cases in all animal species including dogs, cats, horses, production animal, exotic pets and zoo animals
- Hereditary eye disease screening including `ACES’ screening for pure breed dogs
- Slit-lamp biomicroscopy
- Indirect and direct fundoscopy
- Streak retinoscopy
- Tonometry
- Gonioscopy
- Electroretinography
- Ocular ultrasonography
- Oscillometric blood pressure measurement
- Eyelid surgery, including entropion and distichiasis correction
- Corneal surgery, including non-healing ulcer treatments and corneal grafts
- Cataract surgery, including artificial lens implantation
- Luxated lens surgery
- Glaucoma surgery, including laser and drainage implant surgery
- Ocular cryosurgery for various conditions
- Ocular tumour and reconstructive surgery