Good vision is important for your pet's sense of well being and quality of life. Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, can be permanently blinding in as little as 48 hours. Other conditions such as dry eye, eye lid tumors rubbing the cornea, extra eyelashes turned the wrong way or eyelids rolling inward can be chronic, irritating and painful to the pet and frustrating for you.  Accurate diagnosis and early treatment are important and usually less costly.

Eye diseases often look similar with only subtle differences in appearance or history. A veterinary
ophthalmologist has at least two or three years of specialty training after graduation from veterinary college.

In addition, specialized equipment and techniques for ocular use, such as indirect ophthalmoscope, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, automated tonometry, histopathology, radiographic and ultrasonic imaging, electrophysiology, blood pressure, monitor, laser, cryotherapy and microsurgery are available. The specialized training and equipment help the ophthalmologist provide optimal care for your pet.

As a specialist, Dr. Harling has a deep commitment to keep up to date in the latest method in diagnosis, therapy and surgical techniques. Our service is confined to diseases of the orbit, the eyes, eyelids, conjunctiva, nasolacrimal system and ocular manifestations of systemic disease. We do not provide wellness or routine general care in the eye care facility. The is the responsibility of your regular veterinarian, whom we will keep up to date on your pet's progress.

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When your pet is referred to a specialist, it indicates that your doctor wants the best care for you pet. Communication between the referring veterinarian, the client, and the ophthalmologist is essential. You and your veterinarian will be kept abreast of findings, recommendations and follow-up care.  Please be prepared to give us your veterinarian's name, address and phone number. We would appreciate a summary of recent history and problems, or a copy of the medical records.

Educational requirements include at least 3 or 4 years of college in pre-veterinary curriculum, 4 years of veterinary college, a year of internship and two or three years as a resident within the specialty. There may be a requirement of a number of years in practice.  The candidate must publish several scientific articles on ophthalmology in a veterinary medical journal and present a written series of reports on patients seen during the residency. There are demanding written, practical an oral examinations administered by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.  After qualification, continuing education is required and some specialties require periodic re-certification. The words "Board Certified" or "Diplomate" indicate that requirements have been met and the veterinarian is in good standing in the specialty.  At the time of the writing, there are about 200 board certified veterinary ophthalmologists in the USA and Canada.

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Dr. Harling did his pre-veterinary work at St. Lawrence University and received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Cornell University in 1955.  In 1965, he moved to the Triad area of North Carolina to do small animal practice with a heavy emphasis on ophthalmology.  His experience includes almost fifty years of high quality service. In 1983, Dr. Harling was board certified in canine and feline medicine by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. He re-certified by examination in 1991 and 2001. In 1996, he was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. He was associated with the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine as an instructor in ophthalmology from 1982 to 1986 and is now an adjunct assistant professor (since 1986). 

Dr. Harling's special positions and awards include serving as president of the local and regional veterinary medical associations, NC State Veterinary Medical Association, NC Academy for Small Animal Medicine, and American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology.  He is a founding member of the American Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmology. He was awarded the Martin Litwack Award for service to the NC College of Veterinary Medicine, the NC Veterinarian of the Year by the NC State Veterinary Association, Distinguished Veterinarian by NC State Veterinary Association and recognized as Outstanding Practitioner of the Southeast by the American Animal Hospital Association. He authored and co-authored a number of scientific articles and case reports.  He lectured to veterinarians, animal organizations and animal lovers on practice and ophthalmology.

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The term cataract means a clouding or opacification of the lens of the eye, which is normally clear. The lens is located behind the iris and focuses the light image on the retina.  This white opacification is similar to the change in color of a waterfall.  Most cataracts are inherited, but some may be caused by injury, ocular diseases, injury, inflammation, retinal disease, diet or even advanced age. Diabetes is a common cause, especially if it is difficult to stabilize the blood glucose levels. Inherited cataracts may be seen at any age, but most cataracts affect dogs or cats at mid to later life. Some breeds, such as the Poodle, Bichon Frise and Cocker Spaniel, are more commonly affected, but over 30 breeds may be affected.

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There is no effective medical treatment to remove the opacity or cataract. On occasion, the cataracts of younger dogs will resorb or dissolve spontaneously. If this process is suspected, surgery may be delayed and the associated inflammation be controlled with medication. There is some concern that this inflammation may induce glaucoma. If the cataract is small or incomplete, it may not affect vision. Such cases are followed as they may advance with time. Inherited cataracts are usually bilateral and progressive, but may not occur in each eye at the same time. If one or both eyes are are affected and vision is poor, surgery may be considered. Sometimes, the cataract is too dense to examine the retina. In such cases, an electroretinogram (ERG) may be used to be certain the retina is functional and not damaged by disease.

The entire lens is removed at surgery; the capsule of the lens (if intact) is used to hold an intraocular lens (IOL). This IOL considerably improves vision, although the patient will often do well without.  In young, active patients, both eyes may be operated at the same time, or after a 3--month delay for the fellow eye.  Older animals may do well with surgery on just one eye.

Cataract surgery for dogs is very similar to that of people. A dog's vision is more attuned to shapes and motion, rather than crisp, sharp detail like we see. Placement of a lens implant (IOL) is available and helpful to improve vision. Events during the surgical procedure may make it impossible to implant an artificial lens. If this is the case, most dogs without a lens implant will still have useful vision. After surgery, your pet will improve each day for the initial 3 or 4 weeks.  While scars, glaucoma, inflammation, infection and retinal detachment are occasional serious side effects that affect vision, we expect the overall success rate to be about 90% in young dogs with early cataracts. Older or diabetic patients, or instances where the cataract has been long-standing, may be a bit less than that. Eight or twelve weeks after surgery, the eye will essentially be healed and, in most cases, the medication may be discontinued.

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It is our preference to keep the patient 1 or 2 days after surgery to be sure there are no complications.

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