Ophthalmology

C. Sue West, D. V. M.,
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

Dr. West knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian,

and was very fortunate to be able to achieve this dream when she graduated from the University of Minnesota Veterinary College in 1975. During her internship at a multi-specialty practice in Chicago, she became interested in ophthalmology and a year later returned to Chicago to begin her two year residency in Ophthalmology in association with Animal Eye Associates and the University of Illinois Medical Center. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Ophthalmology in 1979. While on staff at the Medical Center as an Assistant Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology she was awarded an Individual fellowship award from the National Institute of Health, National Eye Institute to study retinal disease in Collies and English Springer Spaniels. During her years in the Chicago area she also served as an Ophthalmic Consultant to Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoological Garden, Ringling Brother's Circus and the Shedd Aquarium; having the opportunity to perform cataract surgery on tigers, snow leopards, and elephants and corneal surgery on moray eels. In 1983, she moved to Tampa, Florida where she joined the Animal Eye Clinic and was also an Ophthalmic Consultant to Busch Gardens. In 1990 she married her Canadian husband and moved to the Midland, Ontario area where she continued to pursue her career in private specialty practice and where they have happily raised their two children and many four-legged family members.

She has been actively involved with local and national Veterinary Associations throughout her career. In 1991-1992 she was elected and served as the second woman President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. She continues to enjoy her work; especially meeting client's and their pets and being able to help them to understand their pet's eye care conditions and needs.

OPHTHALMIC SERVICES

Ophthalmic examination including:

Slit lamp Biomicroscopy - which allows close examination of the anterior structures of the eye including eyelids, cornea, anterior chamber, iris and the vitreous gel which fills the space behind the iris and lens.

Indirect Ophthalmoscopy - which gives a detailed view of your pet's retinas (the film in the camera, visual layer).

.Fluorescein dye testing - to determine if there is a scratch or ulceration of the cornea.

Schirmer Tear Testing - to determine if there is enough or the watery portion of the tears being produced to keep the cornea clear and healthy.

Tonometry - the evaluate if the pressure within the eye is too high (glaucoma) or too low (uveitis - inflammation).

Gonioscopy - for this test, a topical anesthetic is placed on the eye to freeze the cornea so there is no discomfort and a lens is placed on the cornea allowing a view of the area where fluid drains out of the eye. 

CAER Screening of Purebred dogs - in association with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. This is a service for breeder's of purebred dogs used to identify inherited eye diseases in dogs which they are considering breeding. It is used to remove dogs from breeding programs which may pass on eye diseases to their puppies and also identify dogs which are free from serious eye diseases. After examination breeder's may register their dogs with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and have them certified as free from heritable eye diseases. There is also a data bank which collects this information on all examined dogs o help identify and understand diseases in specific breeds.

Diagnosis and medical treatment of ophthalmic conditions including:

• Congenital Defects (birth defects)
• Eye injuries
• Orbital disease
• Ocular and orbital tumors
• Eyelid diseases
• Third eyelid gland prolapse (Cherry eye)
• Dry eye
• Glaucoma
• Corneal disease
• Cataracts and luxated lenses
• Uveitis (inflammation within the eye)
• Retinal disease
• Vision loss