BOARD CERTIFICATION
IN OPTHAMOLOGY

 

 

To be board-certified, the veterinarian must serve a 2-3 year residency in ophthalmology at a veterinary teaching hospital. Once the residency is completed the board certification process begins first with a credentials package consisting of publications, case reports, and resume.

If the credentials are accepted by the ACVO exam committee, the applicant is allowed to take the examination.

Finally, after passing all of the above criteria, the veterinarian is considered a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO).


CERF/Ophathamology

While early ocular disease and/or minor conditions can be managed appropriately in the care of your pet's primary care veterinarian, more serious conditions like blindness, glaucoma or ocular tumors may need the expertise of a veterinary ophthalmologist. Vision can be restored in some blind patients with cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implant. Glaucoma and intraocular tumors can be treated with LASER surgery.

CERF (CANINE EYE REGISTRATION FOUNDATION) exams or eye certifications are performed on breeding dogs in an attempt to minimize the frequency of inherited eye disease in a certain breed. Breeders are encouraged to contact their breed-specific clubs or the AKC to find breed recommendations for age and frequency of eye certification exams. Generally, dogs used for breeding should be re-examined annually.


RUTH M. MARRION, DVM, DACVO, PhD

Ruth M. Marrion, DVM, DACVO, PhD is a visiting specialist to VRCNH. Dr. Marrion is originally from East Lyme, Connecticut. She obtained a BS from Penn State University, following which she spent several years in biomedical research. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a DVM in 1991 and spent one year as a small animal intern at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Marrion then returned to the University of Missouri as an ophthalmology resident. She finished her residency and became board certified in 1997. Concurrently with her residency she received a Ph.D in infectious diseases of the eye from the University of Missouri.