The ophthalmologists and staff at BluePeal Pittsburgh are excited to again be participating the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Annual Service Animal Eye Exam Event taking place in May 2023. Now in its 14th year, this event has provided over 80,000 free examinations in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This effort is due to the donation of time, staff and service to provide free screening ocular examinations to qualified service, therapy, and working animals. Registration opened through the month of April. Once registered, owners/handlers were then asked to contact the participating ophthalmologist in their area with their registration information to schedule an examination during the month of May. During the eye exam, the ophthalmologist will be looking for any abnormalities of the eye. As stated on the ACVO Eye Exam website “The aim is to identify problems early. Some abnormalities might need to be treated to prevent or delay progression. Other sight-threatening problems such as retinal disease, cataracts, or glaucoma can be identified.” BluePearl Pittsburgh ophthalmologists will be performing this eye examinations at both BluePearl Pittsburgh North and BluePearl Pittsburgh South.

Our ophthalmology group and some of the great animals who benefit from this event have been features in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in the past. (https://www.post- gazette.com/pets/pet-tales/2017/05/13/Free-eye-exams-service-therapy-dogs- PVSEC/stories/201705130012)

Information about this great program can be found at https://www.acvoeyeexam.org/.