Equine Ophthalmology Service
Welcome to the Equine Ophthalmology Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Our team of ophthalmology specialists are dedicated to providing the highest level of equine eye care. The Service provides advanced diagnostics, as well as routine, complex and emergency medical and surgical care to horses with a variety of ocular disorders, including corneal ulcers, corneal and eyelid cancer, equine recurrent uveitis, cataracts, and glaucoma. Whether you are a horse owner, a referring equine veterinarian, or an ophthalmology specialist yourself, our Service is here to help you with procedures ranging from a routine eye examination to a complex surgery.
Clinical Activities and Procedures
The Equine Ophthalmology Service provides advanced diagnostics, as well as routine, complex and emergency medical and surgical care to horses with a variety of ocular disorders, including:
- Corneal ulcers
- Corneal and eyelid cancer
- Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU)
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
Specialized tests and diagnostics include:
- Slit lamp biomicroscopy
- Tonometry (measurement of intraocular pressure)
- Corneal culture and cytology
- Electroretinogram or ERG (a specialized test of retinal function)
- High-frequency ultrasound
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Surgical and microsurgical procedures include:
- Corneal grafting procedures for deep corneal ulcers
- Cyclosporine Implants for ERU
- Cataract surgery
- Excision and cryotherapy or radiation therapy for tumors of the eye and eyelids
Our service of faculty, residents, and technicians provide a team approach to each patient’s care, and provides 24/7 emergency coverage for equine patients.
Faculty
Kathryn Good, DVM, DACVO
Chief of Service
Steven Hollingsworth, DVM, DACVO
David J. Maggs, BVSc (hons), DACVO
Christopher Murphy, DVM, PhD, DACVO
Sara M. Thomasy, DVM, PhD, DACVO
Brian Leonard, DVM, PhD, DACVO
Residents

Sara Adelman, DVM
Soohyun Kim, DVM
Kelly Knickelbein, VMD
Andrea Minella, DVM, PhD
Elyse Salpeter, DVM