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Purpose: To examine variables that affect publication of ACVO meeting abstracts in peer‐reviewed journals and compare results to ECVO publication rate (PR). Methods: Published papers were identified via online searches for abstracts from 2008 to 2012 ACVO/ECVO meetings. Variables analyzed (via Pearson's chi‐Squared test) included the following: oral presentation/poster, type of abstract (clinical/basic science/case report), species, ocular tissue, nationality, funding, first/last/any author a diplomate, resident as first author, and author affiliation (private practice/university). Results: One hundred and eighty‐six of 577 ACVO abstracts were published within 608 ± 479 days, with 103 published in Veterinary Ophthalmology. Significant factors included the following: nationality of first/last authors (P =.005); English as first language (P <.001); presentation type (P <.001, oral 40% PR, poster 22% PR); type of study (P =.037, clinical study 35% PR, basic science 30% PR, case report 16% PR); resident as first author (P <.001); diplomate as any author except first/last (P <.001); first author affiliation (P =.001, university 37% PR, practice 21% PR); last author affiliation (P =.003, university 36% PR, practice 22% PR); and species (P <.001, horses 53% PR, multiple species 50% PR, cats 35% PR, food animals 31% PR, exotics/wildlife 31% PR, dogs 27% PR, laboratory animals/in vitro 24%). Nonsignificant factors were as follows: diplomate as first/last author, funding, and ocular tissue. Presentation type, resident as first author, university affiliation of first author, and species had the greatest effect on publication probability. For the same period, ECVO PR was 87 of 299, which was not significantly different from ACVO PR (P =.342). Conclusion: At 32%, ACVO PR for the study years is similar to ECVO PR of 29%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present a semiquantitative ocular scoring system comprising elements and criteria that address many of the limitations associated with systems commonly used in preclinical studies, providing enhanced cross-species applicability and predictive value in modern ocular drug and device development.Methods: Revisions to the ocular scoring systems of McDonald-Shadduck and Hackett-McDonald were conducted by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists at Ocular Services On Demand (OSOD) over the execution of hundreds of in vivo preclinical ocular drug and device development studies and general toxicological investigations. This semiquantitative preclinical ocular toxicology scoring (SPOTS) system was driven by limitations of previously published systems identified by our group's recent review of slit lamp-based scoring systems in clinical ophthalmology, toxicology, and vision science.Results: The SPOTS system provides scoring criteria for the anterior segment, posterior segment, and characterization of intravitreal test articles. Key elements include: standardized slit lamp settings; expansion of criteria to enhance applicability to nonrabbit species; refinement and disambiguation of scoring criteria for corneal opacity, fluorescein staining severity, and aqueous flare; introduction of novel criteria for scoring of aqueous and anterior vitreous cell; and introduction of criteria for findings observed with drugs/devices targeting the posterior segment. A modified Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) system is also introduced to facilitate accurate use of SUN's criteria in laboratory species.Conclusions: The SPOTS systems provide criteria that stand to enhance the applicability of semiquantitative scoring criteria to the full range of laboratory species, in the context of modern approaches to ocular therapeutics and drug delivery and drug and device development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the association of various aspects of veterinary ophthalmology residency training with the first-time pass rate ( FTPR) of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists ( ACVO) examination, as well as the individual written, image recognition, animal examination, and surgical sections of the examination. Procedures Program type, resident evaluations, cumulative surgery and case logs, and scores from ACVO examinations from 2007 to 2010 were evaluated. Results Data were available for 71 candidates. The overall FTPR was 35% ( n = 25). For the different sections of the examination, FTPRs were as follows: written (68%), image recognition (76%), intraocular surgery (80%), extraocular surgery (65%), and animal examination (75%). The overall FTPR among candidates from academic residency ( AR) programs was 43% (20 of 47), while the FTPR of residents in private practice ( PPR) programs was 21% (5 of 24; P = 0.07). The AR candidates were more likely to pass the written portion than PPR residents ( P = 0.02), and AR candidates had significantly more time off clinics (median 25%) vs PPR residents (median 18%; P = 0.007). The AR residents also had a higher reported percentage of direct supervision than PPR residents (95% vs 76%, respectively). Although PPR residents did significantly more surgeries and examined significantly more dogs and cats, those from ARs examined significantly more equine, bovine, avian, camelid, and reptile species. Conclusions Overall, AR residents had a higher FTPR and were more likely to pass the written portion of the examination. Total case and surgery numbers were not associated with FTPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the effects of topical 0.5% tropicamide on anterior segment morphology (ASM) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal and glaucomatous cats. Animals used Normal cats and cats with inherited primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Procedures Control IOP curves were performed in untreated normal and PCG cats. In the first experiment, tropicamide was applied OD in eight normal and nine PCG cats. IOP and pupillary diameter (PD) were measured at 0, 30, and 60 min, then hourly until 8 h post-treatment. In a second experiment, six normal and seven PCG cats received tropicamide OD. High-resolution ultrasound images were obtained at 0, 1, 5, and 10 h post-treatment to measure ASM changes. IOP and PD were measured OD at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 h. Results In untreated normal cats IOP OU decreased throughout the day. In PCG cats IOP OU had wide fluctuations over time. In normal cats IOP response varied in the treated eye but did not change significantly in untreated eyes. IOP significantly increased from baseline in both eyes of all treated PCG cats. Increases in IOP were associated with some ASM changes. Cats with PCG had a significantly smaller angle recess areas, diminished ciliary clefts and decreased iris-lens contact. ASM changes were not strongly correlated with IOP in all cats. Conclusions The ASM of PCG cats is markedly different from normal cats, and clinically significant increases in IOP OU occur in cats with PCG after tropicamide treatment. The mechanism for this increase remains unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the clinical application of high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) in veterinary ophthalmology. Effectiveness of HRUS as a diagnostic tool; Examination of iridocorneal angle by HRUS; Use of HRUS in small animals.

Practitioners approach chemical ciliary body ablation ( CBA) in cats with caution. In 1994, an academic letter proposed a potential link between intraocular gentamicin injections for glaucoma and the appearance of ocular tumors in cats ( Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology, 4, 1994, 166). There is an historic perceived risk for the development of feline ocular post-traumatic sarcoma following gentamicin ciliary body ablation, and many clinicians refrain from chemical ablation in cats for this reason. A recent study discussed the possibility of a correlation between intravitreal gentamicin and tumor promotion in dogs ( Veterinary Ophthalmology, 16, 2013, 159). We searched the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin ( COPLOW) database for cases of cats diagnosed with ocular tumors following ciliary body ablation. Of eight cases with historic gentamicin injection, five had malignant tumors: three post-traumatic sarcomas and two melanomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preface to the journal "Veterinary Ophthalmology" is presented.

The author reflects on campaigns in schools for a moment of science in veterinary ophthalmology. He argues that the notion of evidence-based medicine was forgotten and scientific evidence in decisions about the care of patients were made based on claims on the Internet and other anecdotal sources. He suggests that veterinary ophthalmology should practice evidence-based medicine.