VT Equine medical center offers new ophthalmology service for horses

VT News Release
Published: April 24, 2008

Read the news release below from Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center is has added an ophthalmology service through an alliance with Scottsdale, Ariz., based Eye Care for Animals. The new offering, which became available on March 4, is provided by Dr. Gwendolyn Lynch, a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist and associate doctor at Eye Care for Animals Leesburg, Va., location.

A broad range of ophthalmic diagnostic services for horses, as a result, are now being offered, including: full examination using a slit-lamp biomicroscope and ophthalmoscope, tear testing, corneal staining, glaucoma testing, culture, cytology ocular ultrasound, and electroretinogram. Corneal surgery will be offered, as will laser glaucoma surgery, cosmetic surgery for blind eyes, and combination treatments for eyelid tumors like squamous cell carcinoma.

“We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Lynch’s expertise available for equine eye care consultations,” said Dr. Nat White, equine medical center. “As an ophthalmologic specialist, Dr. Lynch has enhanced our internal medicine and surgery services, and made it easier for patients suffering from a wide range of eye and vision problems to get treatment, in addition to the specialized care offered by the equine medical center’s internists.”

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Lynch earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Florida. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Mass., and a three-year residency with Eye Care for Animals in Tustin, Calif.

“Eyes are very specialized so having someone who is trained in veterinary ophthalmology available can only improve the quality of care horses receive,” said Lynch. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, and believe that, together, we can provide excellent eye care for horses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.”

Ophthalmology appointments at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center are currently available on Tuesday afternoons and can be scheduled by calling the Eye Care for Animals located within The LifeCentre in Leesburg at (571) 209-1190. Lynch is also available for verbal consultation with the equine medical center staff for horses with urgent or emergency eye problems outside of these hours.

The Eye Care for Animals group is dedicated to providing the finest in veterinary ophthalmology services. With practices located in Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Maryland, the group collaborates with other area specialists including neurologists, internists, dermatologists, dentists and surgeons to treat more than 15,000 patients a year.