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A specialist veterinary ophthalmologist is a Diplomate of the American or European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists or Fellow of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Ophthalmology). Specialist status has been introduced to protect owners and their pets, providing them with the piece of mind in knowing that they are genuinely dealing with someone who has achieved the highest level of expertise in their field. An officially recognised Veterinary Specialist is an individual who has had advanced training in an approved facility provided by a fully qualified expert in their field.

It takes in the order of 10,000 - 12,000 hours for a vet to become a Specialist vet. A vet wishing to become a Specialist will normally do one or two 12 month internships at a Specialist centre and then apply for a 3 year Residency where he/she trains directly under other Specialists spending 100% of their time on their area of specialism - so in total, the process generally takes about 5 years and also includes publishing clinical research papers before the vet is ready to sit the Specialist exams, which can sometimes have a pass rate of only 30%.

Candidates who pass the exams are known as Diplomates and win the hard-earned right to be called a Specialist.

Terms such as “Consultant” or “Ophthalmologist” or other such terms are confusing for the general public as in the human medical field they imply specialist status. It is important to understand that this is not the case in the veterinary field. Only a veterinary surgeon who is a Recognised Specialist is allowed to call themselves a “Specialist”. Always ask to ensure you are seeing a fully qualified Specialist. Follow this link to clarify whether the person you are seeing is a recognised specialist in veterinary ophthalmology. https://sva.org.sg/veterinaryspecialists/

The veterinary profession has several levels of post graduate study available for people interested in ophthalmology. The Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology is awarded to general practitioners who have an interest in a subject but this is not a specialist qualification. This is also not a recognised formal ophthalmology training program in an approved facility.

Every case is unique. Some cases may require ongoing specialist care whilst some cases may be followed up by your primary care veterinarian. You will be advised during the consultation about ongoing care of your pet’s eyes.

Your primary care veterinarian can refer you to see our ophthalmologist. You or your veterinarian can call the reception at +65 6241 2011 and then make an appointment with us and send us your pet’s history.

Early detection of canine and feline eye problems can be critical to treating them in time before permanent damage or blindness sets in.

Some unusual signs may be: dilated pupils or pupils of two different sizes, Cloudiness or sudden change in eye color, Unusual spots on the iris (the colored portion of the eye) or the cornea (the surface of the eye), Squinting, winking, or keeping the eye(s) closed, Pawing at the eye, Ocular discharge, excessive watering, crustiness in the corners of the eye, tear stained fur, Visible third eyelid.

Your primary care veterinarian should be your first port of call to identify if it is an emergency. In general, there is only a small window of opportunity for us to correct a condition in the eye with minimal complications and high success rates. Therefore, most eye conditions should not wait!

No. Dogs are not humans. The cause of cataracts in dogs is not as commonly associated with aging as in the case for humans. If your dog has a cataract, please see an ophthalmologist to give you correct and the most current advice. Cataracts are not a benign condition, they SHOULD NOT be neglected.