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Overview
South Asheville Veterinary Emergency and Specialty ophthalmology department specializes in diagnosing and managing eye conditions. Eyesight is an important component of your pet’s quality of life. Our goal is to preserve your pet’s eyesight, when possible, and manage your pet’s ocular condition to keep them comfortable and pain-free.
Since pets cannot read an eye chart or tell us they have blurry vision, we use a variety of diagnostic tests to evaluate their eye health. Assessments we may use include:
Schirmer tear test
A Schirmer tear test is used to measure tear production, to help our ophthalmologists diagnose keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or “dry eye.”
Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement
IOP measurement helps us rule out or diagnose glaucoma (i.e., increased IOP), a painful, sight-threatening condition that must be diagnosed and treated immediately.
Fluorescein stain
Fluorescein stain is applied to the cornea to detect corneal injuries, ulcers, and foreign bodies.
Slit lamp biomicroscopy
A slit lamp is used to better evaluate the structures of your pet’s eyes.
Chromatic pupillary light response (cPLR)
A special diagnostic instrument that shines red and blue light to stimulate the different parts of the eye can help our ophthalmology team differentiate between retinal and optic nerve conditions, and diagnose blindness-causing conditions early.
Corneal cytology
Microscopic evaluation of a corneal sample can allow our ophthalmology team to detect inflammatory cells or infectious microorganisms.
Electroretinogram (ERG)
An ERG measures the retina’s electrical activity to help our ophthalmologists determine whether your pet’s retina is functional.
Gonioscopy
Gonioscopy is used to evaluate the drainage angle of the eye, to aid in a glaucoma diagnosis.
Ocular ultrasound
Ultrasound allows our ophthalmologists to view and evaluate structures inside, behind, and around your pet’s eye.
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) evaluation
CAER examination, which is performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, screens for genetic eye diseases in breeding dogs in an effort to reduce the incidence of eye disease.
Our veterinary ophthalmologists have experience treating a variety of eye conditions, including:
Eyelid conditions
Blepharitis, distichia, ectopic cilia, entropion, ectropion, eyelid masses, meibomianitis
Conjunctiva and third eyelid conditions
Conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (i.e., dry eye), third eyelid gland prolapse (i.e., cherry eye)
Scleral conditions
Episcleritis, scleritis, limbal melanoma
Corneal conditions
Corneal degeneration, corneal sequestrum, corneal ulcers and perforation, eosinophilic keratoconjunctivitis, feline herpesvirus, pannus, pigmentary keratopathy
Uveal conditions
Glaucoma, intraocular neoplasia, pigmentary uveitis, uveal cysts, uveitis
Lens conditions
Cataracts, lens luxation
Vitreous, retina, and optic nerve conditions
Chorioretinitis, optic neuritis, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), retinal degeneration, retinal detachment, sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS), vitreal degeneration
