(Hampton Roads, Va., Oct. 8, 2015) – Dogs, cats, horses and animals of all shapes and sizes can now receive the eye care they need. The Animal Vision Center of Virginia opened this month at 521 Old Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach, and a grand opening celebration will take place Saturday, Oct. 17 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For the opening event, pet owners are invited to BYOD – bring your own dog! The celebration will feature tours of the state-of-the-art facility, a canine agility course, petting zoo and lunch provided by Major League Bar-B-Que as well as light fare from Baladi Mediterranean Café and Thai Arroy Restaurant. A silent auction will be held to raise awareness of animals with glaucoma and to benefit local animals in need of eye care. Guests may bid on donations provided by Dan Ryan’s for Men, Corner 24 Surf Shop, Baladi Mediterranean Café, Balance Massage, April Mitchel Integrative Yoga, Thai Arroy Restaurant, Ynot Restaurant, Stand Up Paddleboard, Marcus Holman Photography, Hot House Yoga, Wareings Gym and more. Owned and operated by Dr. Heather Brookshire, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, Animal Vision Center of Virginia offers a full array of animal eye care services including eye exams and diagnosis, medical therapies, genetic testing for ocular conditions and surgeries for cataracts, eyelid issues, dry eye, corneal and iris conditions, glaucoma, lens extractions and even eye removal, when necessary. The practice also provides free ocular exams for service dogs. The Center’s team will consult at either its Virginia Beach location or at referring veterinary practices throughout the greater Hampton Roads area, from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg. The value of having animals undergo an annual physical checkup is widely known and practiced. But many pet owners don’t always recognize that eyesight quality is an integral part of their pet’s overall health, according to Dr. Brookshire. “An animal’s vision is the key to their living a full, active and healthy life,” she said. “But, just as with humans, accidents, disease and age-related conditions can affect a pet’s sight.” Signs that a pet might have eyesight problems can include eye redness, swelling, discharge, cloudiness, squinting or bumping into objects at home. “If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to have your animal’s eyes examined,” said Dr. Brookshire, “and we are here to help.” Dr. Brookshire has treated dogs, cats, horses, birds, reptiles, pocket pets and a variety of other exotic and wild animals. As a volunteer, she provides eye care to horses of Untamed Spirit, a therapeutic horseback riding program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Michigan and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. Dr. Brookshire completed a rotating medicine and surgery internship at North Carolina State University, and a combined residency in comparative veterinary ophthalmology with North Carolina State University and Animal Eye Care Associates to become board certified in veterinary ophthalmology.
