Veterinary Ophthalmology Apple Valley - Vet Partners Pet Hospital

Veterinary Ophthalmology Services at Vet Partners

Many eye conditions can become painful or lead to permanent vision loss very quickly. We provide diagnostics and timely treatment for everything from common infections to emergencies.

Emergency Eye Care

Eye emergencies are painful and vision-threatening. Do not wait. If you suspect your pet is experiencing any of the severe signs listed in our “When to Worry” section (Sudden Vision Loss, Severe Pain, Trauma, etc.), please contact us immediately. If outside of our normal business hours, please contact an emergency hospital. A list of our recommended emergency animal hospitals can be found on our urgent care page, below the urgent care section.

Common Eye Conditions and Symptoms

Here are some of the most common eye conditions we diagnose and treat at Vet Partners, along with the symptoms you should watch for in your pet.

Corneal Ulcers

What it Is: A scratch or abrasion on the clear tissue at the front of the eye (the cornea) that exposes the underlying nerve endings. What Symptoms to Watch For: Redness of the white of the eyes, squinting and pain, watering, discharge (clear, yellow, or green), and pawing at the face.

Glaucoma

What it Is: A serious condition where fluid builds up within the eye, causing high pressure and pain. This is a vision-threatening emergency. What Symptoms to Watch For: Acute pain/intense squinting, redness, the eye looking hazy or blue, and the eyeball possibly appearing slightly enlarged or bulging.

Conjuctivitis

What it Is: Inflammation of the white tissue (the conjunctiva) around the eye, often caused by allergies, viruses, or bacteria. What Symptoms to Watch For: Redness of the white and inner eyelids, watering, discharge (clear, yellow, or green), and mild pawing at the face.

Dry Eyes

What it Is: The eye does not produce enough tears to stay lubricated. If untreated, it causes chronic irritation and can lead to blindness. What Symptoms to Watch For: Recurring redness, thick, sticky yellow-white discharge (mucus), cloudiness of the cornea, and chronic rubbing.

Cherry Eye

What it Is: The gland of the third eyelid pops out from its normal position. Most common in young brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds. What Symptoms to Watch For: A round, pink or red fleshy mass visible in the inner corner of the eye, often causing irritation or discharge.

Cataracts

What it Is: Opacity within the lens of the eye, which blocks light and may impair vision. Often hereditary or related to diabetes. What Symptoms to Watch For: The pupil appears cloudy, white, or grey inside (not just a blue haze), and your pet shows signs of impaired vision (bumping into things).

Entropion

What it Is: The eyelid rolls inward, causing the fur and eyelashes to constantly rub against the cornea. What Symptoms to Watch For: Chronic irritation, squinting, excessive tearing, wet fur below the eye, and recurring corneal ulcers.

When to Worry

If you notice any of the following signs in the Ocular Emergency section, please call Vet Partners Apple Valley immediately. Eye pain and vision loss can progress very quickly, and waiting even a few hours can significantly impact the outcome.

Ocular Emergencies (Call Us Now)

Acute/Sudden Blindness: Your pet bumps into objects, is hesitant to move, or is suddenly unable to track toys. This requires immediate treatment.
Severe Trauma: Any poke, scratch, foreign body stuck in the eye, or blunt force trauma (e.g., hit by a car, running into a stick).
Severe Pain/Intense Squinting: Your pet is unable or unwilling to open the eye, or is rubbing it excessively and non-stop. This often indicates a deep scratch (ulcer) or severe internal pressure (glaucoma).
Bulging or Protruding Eyeball: The eye appears to have shifted or is sticking out more than normal.
Rapid Cloudiness or Haze: The front of the eye suddenly turns blue or cloudy, especially if accompanied by pain. This could indicate glaucoma, which is a vision-threatening emergency due to severely high internal eye pressure.
Visible Deep Laceration or Cut: A tear in the eyelid or, more seriously, a deep cut on the clear surface (cornea).

Urgent Signs (Call Us Today)

Persistent Redness and Swelling: The whites of the eye are very red, and the eyelids are noticeably swollen for more than a few hours.
Thick, Yellow, or Green Discharge: Discharge that is heavy, pus-like, and cannot be easily wiped away (often a sign of a severe infection).
New Pigment or Mass: A suddenly noticeable black, brown, or pink mass or spot on the surface of the eye or eyelid that wasn't there before.
Constant Pawing or Rubbing: Repetitive, persistent attempts to rub or paw at the eye area.
Unequal Pupils (Anisocoria): One pupil is significantly larger or smaller than the other.

Diagnostic Services

At Vet Partners Apple Valley, we utilize several essential diagnostic tools to assess the health of your pet’s eyes accurately:

Fluorescein Stain Test (Corneal Stain): This quick, non-toxic dye highlights any painful corneal ulcers (scratches or abrasions on the clear surface of the eye) that require immediate treatment.
Schirmer Tear Test (STT): Measures the eye's tear production to diagnose Dry Eye (KCS). Low tear production is a common, chronic condition that causes severe discomfort.
Tonometry (Intraocular Pressure Test): Gently measures the pressure inside the eyeball, essential for diagnosing life-threatening conditions like Glaucoma (high pressure) or Uveitis (internal inflammation/low pressure).
Ophthalmoscopy (Fundic Exam): We use specialized magnification to look deep into the eye, examining the lens and retina to check for cataracts, retinal disease, or signs of underlying systemic illnesses like high blood pressure.
Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy (Detailed Exam): A specialized hand-held instrument that gives us a magnified, 3D view of the front of the eye, allowing us to inspect subtle damage, foreign bodies, and minor lesions in extreme detail.

Medical Management

We effectively treat and manage non-surgical conditions, often involving medication, pain management, and chronic care:

Infections & Inflammation: Treating various forms of conjunctivitis ("pink eye"), bacterial, or fungal infections with topical and oral medications.
Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - KCS): Developing long-term treatment plans to manage chronic tear deficiency and improve eye comfort.
Corneal Ulcers (Simple): Treating scratches and defects on the cornea with medical therapy, pain relief, and protective measures.
Eyelid and Eyelash Disorders: Managing issues like distichiasis (abnormally growing eyelashes) and ectopic cilia with non-surgical treatments where appropriate.
Glaucoma (Initial Stabilization): Providing immediate emergency medical stabilization to lower critical intraocular pressure before determining the need for long-term management or referral.
Acute Uveitis: Treating inflammation inside the eye caused by trauma, infection, or immune-mediated disease.

Surgical Procedures & Advanced Care

We offer several common surgical corrections in-house. For complex or advanced procedures, we facilitate a seamless referral process with local board-certified specialists.

Cherry Eye Repair*: Surgical correction of the prolapsed third eyelid gland to restore function and prevent dry eye.
Eyelid Mass/Tumor Removal: Removal and biopsy of small eyelid masses to prevent irritation and spread.
Simple Laceration Repair: Repairing minor wounds and lacerations to the eyelids or surrounding tissues.
Referral Coordination: For complex issues like advanced cataracts, severe glaucoma, or deep complicated ulcers, we provide immediate stabilization and coordinate prompt transfer of care to a specialist.
Surgical Services (Enucleation)*: For advanced cases where the eye cannot be saved or is causing chronic pain, we perform enucleation (surgical removal of the eye) to restore the patient's comfort and quality of life.
*= Procedure not performed at all Vet Parnters Locations. Please call your respective hospital for more information.

Advanced Procedures Performed by Dr. Corrie Walden

Vet Partners Apple Valley

Across twenty years of her veterinary career, as a general practitioner, Dr. Walden prides herself on building close relationships with her clients to help them continually improve the lives of their pets. By delivering expert preventative care, dentistry, surgery, urgent and emergency care, along with end-of-life consultations, she has been a key partner in her clients’ journey through the lives of their companions. Her professional passion is ophthalmology and surgery: she loves all things eyes!

Advanced Procedures Performed by Dr. Corrie Walden

Dr. Corrie Walden at our Apple Valley location offers procedures and treatments that go beyond basic eye care when the situation calls for it. An example of the more advanced cases are listed below:

Corneal Ulcers (Advanced): Treating deeper, infected and non-healing ulcers that are more problematic than a simple corneal ulcer.
Eyelid and Eyelash Disorders: Offers both medical and surgical management for conditions such as distichiasis (abnormally growing eyelashes) and ectopic cilia to prevent irritation and corneal damage.
Glaucoma: Providing immediate emergency stabilization to lower critical intraocular pressure and offer ongoing, long-term medical management for patients with glaucoma.
Surgical Services (Enucleation): For advanced cases where the eye cannot be saved or is causing chronic pain, we perform enucleation (surgical removal of the eye) to restore the patient's comfort and quality of life.

Ophthalmology Referral form

Veterinarian or CVT looking to refer a pet? This is the place for you. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible for you and to get your patients the care they need.

Fill out the referral form by clicking the button below.
A member of our Referral Team will email you within 12-24 hours to confirm referral.
A member of our Referral Team will call the owner to schedule the service.
Records and recommendations from the visit will be emailed within 12-24 hours of the visit for you to follow-up with the client regarding any next steps.