Ophthalmology

At Modern Vet, we can determine whether your pet has elevated intraocular pressure (glaucoma) by using a variety of tonometers (including rebound and applanation). Since early glaucoma may not always present with obvious visible signs, it is very important to monitor for this disease early on in order to preserve your pet’s vision.

Using a slit lamp biomicroscope allows us to get a highly magnified view of the front structures of the eye (cornea, lens, etc.) to help identify diseases such as corneal ulcers, chronic inflammation, early cataract formation and other conditions that may not be evident during a standard physical examination.

Using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopes allows us to visualize the retina, optic nerve and vitreous to diagnose conditions such as retinal degeneration, retinal detachment, and vascular changes that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

If a cataract is blocking our ability to visually inspect the inside of the eye, ocular ultrasonography can provide us with high resolution images of the internal structures of the eye allowing us to assess the health of the retina or to look for masses without having to perform an invasive procedure.

For complicated cases such as tumors, orbital disease, or neurological disease we work with imaging centers to obtain 3-D scans of the area affected so we can determine the cause of your pet’s problem and develop a course of action.

By applying fluorescein dye to your pet’s eyes we can identify corneal ulcers, scratches, or foreign bodies as these areas will fluoresce when exposed to blue light.

The Schirmer tear test evaluates the tear production of your pet’s eyes to determine if your pet suffers from dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Dry eye can lead to corneal ulcers if left untreated.

Using gonioscopy, we can assess the drainage angle of your pet’s eye to evaluate the risk or progression of glaucoma especially in breeds known to be susceptible to glaucoma.