It’s all fun and games until someone loses an EYE! An overview of ocular emergencies.

By: Robert Swinger, DVM, DACVO

Description: One of the most challenging aspects of veterinary ophthalmology is dealing with emergencies. This includes how to perform emergency procedures, what drugs to have in your hospital for these cases, and how and when to refer to an ophthalmologist. This session will review common emergency management of cases, including melting/deep corneal ulcers, proptosed globes, hyphema, and acute glaucoma. This session will help you understand the long-term prognosis following these emergencies and what information needs to be relayed to owners as therapy is initiated.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand how to triage emergency patients and initiate therapy appropriately
2. Improve confidence and skill when treating ocular emergencies
3. Review common surgical procedures, including enucleations and reduction of proptosis

Speaker Info: Dr. Robert Swinger completed his undergraduate work and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 2003. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary Specialists of South Florida in 2004, he went on to complete both an ophthalmology internship and residency at the Animal Eye Specialty Clinic. Soon thereafter, he joined the VCA Aurora Animal Hospital before returning to Florida in 2011 to launch Animal Eye Guys. Animal Eye Guys has several locations across South Florida extending on the east coast from Miami to Coral Springs and on the west coast from Fort Myers to Naples. Dr. Swinger is board certified and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. In his work environment, Dr. Swinger enjoys teaching and taking active roles in the clinic’s internship/residency programs. He is an active lecturer/wet lab instructor across the nation including the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, The Gulf Atlantic Veterinary Conference, AVMA, Vet Vacation CE and many local events for his referring veterinary community. He currently serves on the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Executive Board and is a member of the Wedgewood Medical Advisory Board. Outside of the veterinary arena, Dr. Swinger enjoys spending time with his family (which includes his twins, Keegan and Francesca, and a toy poodle, Sophia) and enjoys the outdoors.