Veterinary ophthalmology is a specialization of veterinary medicine that addresses eye health, eye disease, and vision in animals. A veterinary ophthalmologist may treat animals of any species.
Veterinary ophthalmologists treat animal eye problems such as clouding of the eye, cataracts, glaucoma, loss of sight, eye infections, eye cancers, corneal ulcers, dry eye problems, diseases of the retina, and genetic eye problems. They use highly specialized equipment for examination of the eyes, including slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and various other modalities. ,
A veterinary ophthalmologist is a veterinarian that is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO). To become a Board-Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist and a member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, a candidate must have:
• Received a degree in veterinary medicine from a college accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (this requires a total of 8 years of college)
• Completed one or more years in advanced training in general medicine and surgery
• Completed a 3 year residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at an approved residency program
• Successfully completed a rigorous 3-day certifying examination that included testing of diagnostic and surgical skills.
A Veterinary Ophthalmologist, like any other professional, makes different salaries depending upon their place of employment, geographical area and applicable skills. The median salary for an veterinary ophthalmologist in the United States is more than $102,124 annually.
