Animal Eye Doctors is an established provider of pet eye care in the Fort Myers/ Naples, Florida area since 2007. What is an animal eye clinic? How is this different from a general veterinary practice?
To begin with, board-certified or board-eligible veterinarians make up veterinary ophthalmic specialty practices. Board-certified doctors are diplomates of a specialty organization. In the North America, this organization is the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. You may see the letters DACVO after the name of a boarded doctor. This stands for “Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists”.
To become a board-certified member of the ACVO, a veterinarian must complete a 3-year or longer residency training program in veterinary ophthalmology at a university or accredited private practice. After training, the applicant takes a multi-day test that consists of written and surgical components. A veterinarian is recognized as a “Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists®” (or board certified) with successful completion of the examination. Only board-certified persons may call themselves a “veterinary specialist”, a “specialist in veterinary ophthalmology” or a “veterinary ophthalmologist”.
Why consider a veterinary ophthalmologist and an animal eye clinic? A general practice veterinarian may handle many eye problems. However, patients may benefit from the skills and experience of a specialist. In these cases, a general veterinarian can make a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Clients may also contact an ophthalmologist directly if they wish. Referrals are not required as they are in human medicine.
The following might be situations to consider consultation with a veterinary ophthalmologist:
-
Your pet’s eye condition has not responded to the recommended therapy.
-
Your pet’s vision seems to be deteriorating despite treatment efforts.
-
A corneal ulcer has not responded to treatment.
-
Cataracts causing visual impairment.
-
Breeders who want to ensure their animals have no inherited ocular disease
For more information on animal eye clinics and doctors, you may check out the ACVO website.
