Small Animal Ophthalmology
The Unit of Comparative Ophthalmology was established by Dr Barnett in 1975 and offers a fully comprehensive referral service in the medical and surgical treatment of ophthalmic disorders. We encourage early referral and offer a 24-hour service 7 days a week. We are always happy to see ophthalmic emergencies on the day of referral.
We are a team of six veterinary surgeons and one specialist veterinary nurse who are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease in all species. In addition to providing this service to referring veterinary surgeons and their clients we provide post-graduate training and advice
Ophthalmology staff
David Donaldson BVSc (Hons) CertVOphthal DipECVO MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology
Head of the Comparative Ophthalmology Unit
After qualifying from the University of Sydney in 1989, David Donaldson spent 10 years in small and large animal practice in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Whilst in general practice, David obtained his RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2000. In 2002 David was appointed to a Residency in Veterinary Ophthalmology at the AHT and following this subsequently continued to work at the AHT as a senior clinician in ophthalmology. In 2007 David successfully completed his ECVO examinations.
Jane Sansom BVSc DVOphthal DipECVO FRCVS
Senior Clinician in Veterinary Ophthalmology
Jane qualified at Bristol University some time ago and spent 10 years in general practice during which time she developed an interest in ophthalmology and had the opportunity to specialise in this discipline.
Jane joined the Unit of Comparative Ophthalmology in 1990 and has been fortunate to see the unit expand over this time. The Trust has a highly motivated and specialist team and Jane finds working with her colleagues highly rewarding. Jane particularly enjoys the challenge of clinical work in a referral situation as very few, if any of our cases are, straightforward. This means Jane can contribute in a significant way to the advancement of her discipline through clinical experience, publications and textbooks. Jane is also actively engaged in postgraduate training for the European Diploma in Ophthalmology.
Jane’s outside interests include wildlife conservation and walking in Herriott country.
Claudia Hartley BVSc CertVOphthal DipECVO MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology
Senior Clinician in Veterinary Ophthalmology
After qualifying from Bristol University, Claudia spent three years in predominantly large animal practice in Devon. She then spent 9 months locuming in both large and small animal practices across the country, and stayed on in a Cambridge practice as a permanent member of staff for 5 years, during which time she gained her RCVS Certificate in Ophthalmology. Claudia then spent a year as a clinician scholar at Cambridge Veterinary School undertaking clinical research in the pre-ocular tear film of dogs. The following year Claudia took up a residency at the Animal Health Trust in Veterinary Ophthalmology. She completed her residency in 2007 and in the same year successfully passed her European Diploma exams in Veterinary Ophthalmology. She currently works as a clinician in the Ophthalmology unit at the Animal Health Trust and is undertaking clinical research in tear film abnormalities in dogs.
Resident in Ophthalmology
After qualifying from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover in 2004 Claudia spent one and a half years in general practice while preparing a doctoral thesis on inherited ocular disease. She then went on to complete an internship at the Animal Health Trust, and subsequently commenced a residency in Veterinary Ophthalmology. Her current research interest is PRA in the Miniature Longhaired Dachshund.
Resident in Ophthalmology
Màrian graduated in 2005 from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Following this Marian completed an 18 month general internship at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of UAB. On July 2008 she entered a 12 month ophthalmology internship at the Animal Health Trust (AHT), Newmarket, UK. During her internship, Màrian passed the examination of the Postgrau en Oftalmologia Veterinaria held at the UAB. In August 2009, Màrian started the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology approved residency program at the AHT. Marian’s residency project involves histopathological changes in avians with myelodegenerative diseases.
Christiane Kafarnik Dr med vet MRCVS
Resident in Ophthalmology
After graduating from Berlin in 2001, Christiane undertook a doctoral thesis on corneal innervation in dogs and cats. From 2003-2005 Christiane worked in postdoc research project on in vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea at the University in Munich in cooperation with a private ophthalmology referral clinic, where she worked as clinician till 2007, followed by a 12 month ocular pathology fellowship in Madison-Wisconsin in the States. Christiane then spent some time in externships in M-W, USA, Munich and Berlin before starting the residency at the AHT in October 2009. Her main research interests are ocular pathology and corneal disease.
Intern in Ophthalmology
After obtaining his veterinary degree from UTAD (Universidade Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal) in 2002, Pedro spent the following year as an intern in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at a multi-disciplinary referral centre in Portugal. He worked in general practice while enrolled for his French State Certificat d'Études Supérieures en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire. Pedro moved to the United Kingdom in 2008 to do a discipline-oriented internship and post-graduate training in Comparative Ophthalmology at the Animal Health Trust, where he enjoys helping to improve vision in all kinds of animal species.
Photos
Please click on the links below for examples of some of the diseases we have seen in the Ophthalmology Department at the Animal Health Trust. Diseases have been grouped according to anatomical structures and include examples from dogs, cats, horses and a sealion.
Eyelids | Conjunctivae and Third Eyelid | Tear film disturbances | Cornea | Uveal tract | Lens | Glaucoma | Retina | Orbital disease | Neuro-ophthalmology | Bilateral Ulcerative Keratitis in a Thoroughbred Mare
Case Studies
Mr Snax | Swindle steals our hearts | Top treatment for Little Big Foot | Flint's lost stick | Buster O'Grady- Celebrity Patient!