All Eyes On Us - Ophthalmology Adventures

November 5, 2025 9 AM - 5 PM.

Today was my very first full ophthalmology shift, and let me tell you — it was truly eye-opening (pun fully intended). I shadowed Morgan, an LVT in the Ophthalmology department, and within minutes, I realized how much detail, precision, and patience go into caring for something as delicate as an animal’s eyes. Before the doctor even steps into the room, the techs and assistants perform the “ophtho big three”: a Schirmer tear test to measure tear production, a tonopen reading to assess intraocular pressure, and a fluorescein stain to check for ulcers or scratches.

👁️ Nellie — Autoimmune Episcleritis Suspected

Our first patient was Nellie, a sweet 6-year-old spayed female Golden Retriever here for a recheck. Her right eye was still red, but she wasn’t squinting or rubbing. She had finished her previous medications about a month ago, but her mom mentioned she hadn’t improved or worsened. Her tests were normal — no ulcers, no inflammation, and a slightly higher pressure in the left eye, just like last visit.

When Dr. MacLeese examined her, she suspected a mild autoimmune episcleritis, an idiopathic autoimmune condition that causes inflammation around the sclera. What stood out to me was that she explained how dogs with autoimmune ocular diseases often don’t exhibit discomfort — they don’t squint or rub, and their tests are usually normal. She warned Nellie’s parents that she may develop a small nodule in the future, but reassured them that the condition is manageable. Nellie was started on a steroid eye drop and niacinamide to help control the immune response.

The owners asked if this was glaucoma, but because Nellie had been off meds for a month and her pressures were normal, glaucoma was confidently ruled out.

🐱 Nigel — A Loving Owner’s Promise

Next was Nigel, a Cornish Rex here for a pressure recheck. His numbers were normal, but during the exam, Dr. MacLeese gently explained to his dad that while Nigel still responds to light, he can likely only see shadows now — and is going blind.

His dad’s response?

“That’s okay. I’ll be his eyes.”

It honestly warmed my heart. The bond between pets and their people is like nothing else.

🌞 Sunshine — Post-Op Glaucoma Check

Our next patient was Sunshine, a 12-year-old neutered male Golden Retriever who recently had glaucoma surgery. He has anterior segment dysgenesis, a developmental abnormality in the front part of the eye that can lead to uveitis and eventually glaucoma. His pressures today were perfect, and he looked comfortable. Dr. MacLeese reduced his medications — stopping gabapentin and carprofen, and decreasing his dorzolamide/timolol eye drops from three times a day to twice a day.

🐶 Winnie — A Congenital Surprise

Then came Winnie, an 11-week-old Golden Retriever puppy whose breeder reported a past scratch on the right eye. The new owner noticed the eye looked larger and hazy gray, so she brought her in. After dilating her eye and performing a thorough ophthalmic exam with all the intricate tools, Dr. MacLeese explained that the right eye most likely didn’t form normally — a congenital issue, not a current injury. Her left eye, however, showed a retinal hemorrhage. Medications were started, and the owner was advised to contact the breeder.

It was wild to see how much can be diagnosed just by looking through the right scope at the right angle.

🐾 Harley — Healing Her Corneal Ulcer

Harley, a 6-year-old pittie mix, was in for a recheck after a diagnosed corneal ulcer. Today, her testing showed definite improvement. She was instructed to continue EDTA drops twice a day in the right eye and start neopolydex ointment once daily in both eyes to control inflammation. She’ll follow up again in 4–6 months.

🐰 Bear — No Tears, No Pressure

Our final patient was Bear, a 6-year-old Silkie mix with severe dry eye (KCS). His pressures were extremely low — 0 in the right eye and 7 in the left (normal dog pressure is typically around 10 – 25 mmHg). Because he produces little to no tears, an existing corneal ulcer is taking longer to heal. Dr. MacLeese offered two routes:

• Try medications for a few more weeks, or

• Consider a surgical debridement to help the ulcer heal faster.

Bear’s dad opted for the conservative approach. He was sent home with cyclosporine (Optimmune) for tear production support and neopolybac ointment twice daily.

I never thought I’d be as fascinated by ophthalmology as I was today. Watching Morgan and her team work with such finesse, using these precise instruments to visualize the tiniest structures of the eye, made me appreciate how complicated ocular medicine truly is. Each test — the pressure checks, staining, and tear measurements — all have a purpose, and when you see firsthand how those results translate into diagnosing conditions like glaucoma, ulcers, congenital abnormalities, or autoimmune diseases, it suddenly becomes so much more meaningful.

The eye isn’t just an organ — it’s a whole world of layers, pressures, nerves, and immune responses. And I loved every second of getting to see it up close.

Today’s ophthalmology rotation opened up a whole new side of vet med for me. I came in thinking the eyes were mysterious and gross, but left feeling excited by how much you can interpret from such small structures with the right tools and knowledge. Watching Morgan work so confidently and listening to Dr. MacLeese explain each condition helped me understand the bigger picture: vision isn’t just about sight; it’s about comfort, function, and quality of life.

I also realized how emotionally heavy ophthalmology can be — telling an owner their pet is going blind, or discovering congenital defects in a young puppy. But just as often, it is hopeful: treating ulcers that heal beautifully, lowering dangerous pressures, giving painful eyes relief, and guiding owners through tough decisions with compassion.

Overall, today made me appreciate ophthalmology in a way I never expected. It was detailed, scientific, delicate, and surprisingly moving. I left with a whole new respect for the teams who protect our patients’ vision — and I’m honestly excited to learn even more next time.