Exotics Ophthalmology Bootcamp – Common Ophthalmic Diseases in Exotic Species

This session provides a practical framework for diagnosing and managing critical ocular disease in non-domestic species, with an emphasis on corneal disease. After a brief review of mammalian ocular anatomy, it highlights key comparative differences across vertebrates and explores common causes of corneal ulcers in zoo animals, including trauma, environmental or nutritional factors, and genetic conditions. Attendees will learn diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies—particularly non-topical options for exotic patients that cannot tolerate eye medications—and review the complexities of severe ocular inflammation, such as anterior uveitis, in zoo and wildlife medicine.

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