Ophthalmic Care

Ophthalmology is the specific area of pet care involving treatment of an animal’s eyes. For certain breeds, this service also involves the examination and certification of breeding dogs to verify their eyes are in good condition.

Eye examinations require specific equipment, such as an ophthalmoscope (a magnifying light to look into the eye). Our veterinarians can also use a special dye called fluorescein which glows with a green/yellow colour under UV light to identify any damage to the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). We may also use a tonometer to check the pressure inside your pet’s eye which is raised with a condition called glaucoma.

Many eye conditions can be treated medically, however, specific conditions may require surgery.

Our practice is equipped to offer the following eye procedures for many patients:

• Enucleation (removal) of the eye for severe glaucoma, cancer or painful untreatable eye conditions.
• Entropion surgery to prevent ocular damage from inward pointing eye lashes/eyelids
• Ectropion surgery to correct outward facing eyelids that leave the eye exposed to damage
• Eyelid tumour removal
• Cherry eye surgery to correct a protruding third eyelid in dogs
• Detection and treatment of corneal ulcers (ulcers on the eye surface)
• Measurement of the intra-ocular pressure (pressure inside the eye), which is essential to early diagnosis of glaucoma and other diseases of the eye.

In some cases referral to a specialist veterinary opthalmologist (eye specialist) may be recommended. We work regularly in conjunction with several eye specialists to get the best outcomes for your pets.