100+ Free ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Practice Questions

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The tear film consists of three layers. Which layer is produced primarily by the meibomian glands?

Aqueous layer

Mucin layer

Lipid layer

Glycocalyx layer

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Exam

~200

Written MCQ Items

ACVO Certifying Examination — written phase

3 phases

Written + Clinical + Surgical

Multi-phase ACVO Certifying Examination

~12%

Cornea Weight

Largest single domain on ACVO blueprint

~$2,000

2026 Examination Fee

ACVO (verify current schedule)

3 yr

ACVO-Approved Residency

Required prerequisite plus peer-reviewed publication

~40-60%

First-Attempt Pass Rate

ACVO historical statistics (full multi-phase)

The ACVO Certifying Examination is a multi-phase board exam from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists with written (~200 MCQ), clinical/medical, and surgical practical components administered over several days. Content spans cornea (~12%), anatomy/physiology (~10%), diagnostics (~10%), glaucoma (~10%), eyelid/adnexa (~8%), uveitis (~8%), retina (~8%), lens (~6%), orbital (~5%), conjunctiva (~5%), KCS (~4%), equine (~4%), globe (~3%), feline (~3%), neoplasia (~2%), and exotic (~2%). Examination fee is ~$2,000; requires DVM plus ACVO-approved 3-year residency and an accepted peer-reviewed publication.

Sample ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The tear film consists of three layers. Which layer is produced primarily by the meibomian glands?

A.Aqueous layer

B.Mucin layer

C.Lipid layer

D.Glycocalyx layer

Explanation: The precorneal tear film has three layers: outer lipid (from meibomian/tarsal glands — prevents evaporation), middle aqueous (from lacrimal gland and gland of the third eyelid — the bulk of tears), and inner mucin (from conjunctival goblet cells — anchors tears to the cornea).

2What percentage of aqueous tear production in the dog is contributed by the gland of the third eyelid?

A.Approximately 5%

B.Approximately 30-50%

C.Approximately 75%

D.Approximately 95%

Explanation: The nictitans (third eyelid) gland contributes approximately 30-50% of aqueous tear production in the dog. This is why cherry eye should never be excised — removal significantly increases the risk of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Reposition the gland with a pocket (Morgan) or tacking technique.

3Which corneal layer is primarily responsible for maintaining corneal deturgescence (relative dehydration) via active ion pumps?

A.Epithelium

B.Bowman's layer

C.Stroma

D.Endothelium

Explanation: Corneal endothelium is a single layer of cells containing Na+/K+ ATPase pumps that actively move water out of the stroma, maintaining ~78% hydration required for transparency. Endothelial cells do not regenerate in most species — loss causes permanent edema (bullous keratopathy).

4The nasolacrimal system in the dog drains tears from the ocular surface through which first anatomic structure?

A.Nasolacrimal sac

B.Lacrimal puncta (upper and lower medial eyelids)

C.Hasner's valve

D.Meibomian ducts

Explanation: Tears enter the upper and lower lacrimal puncta at the medial eyelid margins, pass through canaliculi, into the lacrimal sac, then down the nasolacrimal duct to exit at the nasal vestibule. The Jones test uses fluorescein to check patency — dye at the nostril confirms an open system.

5The lens is suspended by zonular fibers that attach at which structure?

A.Iris root

B.Ciliary body (pars plicata)

C.Scleral spur

D.Trabecular meshwork

Explanation: Lens zonules (ciliary zonules of Zinn) arise from the pars plicata of the ciliary body and insert at the lens capsule near the equator. Zonular weakness or breakage causes lens subluxation or luxation, a hallmark of primary lens luxation in Terrier breeds (ADAMTS17 mutation).

6Which cells form the outermost layer of the retina adjacent to the choroid?

A.Ganglion cells

B.Bipolar cells

C.Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)

D.Photoreceptors

Explanation: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the outermost retinal layer, adjacent to the choroid and Bruch's membrane. The RPE supports photoreceptors, phagocytoses outer segment discs, and contains melanin. Photoreceptor outer segments interdigitate with RPE microvilli — a potential space where retinal detachment occurs.

7The anterior uvea consists of which structures?

A.Choroid only

B.Iris and ciliary body

C.Retina and RPE

D.Sclera and episclera

Explanation: The uvea is the vascular middle layer of the eye. The anterior uvea = iris + ciliary body; the posterior uvea = choroid. The ciliary body has pars plicata (produces aqueous, anchors zonules) and pars plana. Uveitis can be anterior, posterior, or panuveitis.

8In the dog, the optic nerve head (disc) appears characteristically as which shape ophthalmoscopically?

A.Perfectly round in all breeds

B.Triangular or variably shaped, often with myelin extending onto it

C.Always depressed (cupped)

D.Avascular and pale

Explanation: Canine optic disc shape is variable — triangular, round, or oval — because myelination often extends onto the disc surface from the optic nerve (in contrast to humans where myelin stops at the lamina cribrosa). Disc color depends on myelin coverage. Physiologic cupping is minimal in most dogs.

9The canine tapetum lucidum is located in which anatomic layer?

A.Between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor outer segments

B.In the superior dorsal choroid (between the RPE and the choroidal vasculature)

C.Anterior to the lens

D.Within the sclera

Explanation: The tapetum lucidum is a cellular reflective layer in the dorsal choroid (between the RPE and the remainder of the choroid) of carnivores and herbivores. It reflects light back through photoreceptors, enhancing dim-light vision and producing the characteristic eyeshine. It is absent in pigs and some primates.

10Aqueous humor is produced primarily by which structure and drains via which pathway as the dominant outflow in the dog?

A.Iris root; produced via emissarial vessels

B.Ciliary body non-pigmented epithelium; drains via the iridocorneal (trabecular) angle into scleral venous plexus

C.Lens; drains via the nasolacrimal duct

D.Choroid; drains across Bruch's membrane

Explanation: Aqueous is produced by the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium of the pars plicata (active secretion by Na+/K+ ATPase + carbonic anhydrase, plus ultrafiltration). Conventional outflow (~85% in dog) crosses the pectinate ligament through the ciliary cleft (trabecular meshwork equivalent) to the scleral venous plexus. Uveoscleral outflow is minor.

About the ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Exam

The ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Certifying Examination is the credentialing examination for Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. It is a multi-phase examination comprising a written section (~200 single-best-answer MCQs), a clinical/medical practical (ophthalmic examination, imaging interpretation, case management), and a surgical practical (wet-lab and live technique assessment). Content spans cornea (ulcers, indolent/SCCED, bacterial collagenolysis, fungal keratitis, FHV-1), ocular anatomy and physiology (tapetum types, aqueous dynamics, angle morphology), diagnostics (Schirmer tear test, Tono-Pen/Tonovet rebound tonometry, fluorescein, TFBUT, gonioscopy, ERG), glaucoma (primary closed-angle goniodysgenesis, ADAMTS10 Beagle open-angle, medical and surgical therapy), eyelid and adnexa (entropion, distichiasis, cherry eye), uveitis (infectious and immune-mediated, uveodermatologic syndrome, equine recurrent uveitis — Appaloosa), retina (PRA prcd/rcd1/XLPRA/CEA, SARDS, hypertensive retinopathy, taurine deficiency), lens (HSF4 cataracts, diabetic, phacoemulsification, ADAMTS17 lens luxation), orbital disease, conjunctiva and nictitans, KCS, globe/sclera, species-specific feline/equine/exotic ophthalmology, and ocular neoplasia. Requires DVM plus an ACVO-approved 3-year residency and an accepted scientific publication.

Questions

200 scored questions

Time Limit

Multi-day examination (written + clinical + surgical practical)

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced standard set by the ACVO Examination Committee (modified Angoff)

Exam Fee

~$2,000 Certifying Examination fee (ACVO 2026 — verify current schedule) (American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO))

ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Exam Content Outline

~12%

Cornea

Corneal anatomy (Bowman's layer absent in most domestic species), ulcers (superficial, stromal, descemetocele, indolent/SCCED — diamond burr or grid keratotomy), infectious keratitis (Pseudomonas collagenolysis — N-acetylcysteine/EDTA/serum, fungal — voriconazole/natamycin, FHV-1 dendritic), endothelial dystrophy (Boxer), lipid/calcific keratopathy, eosinophilic keratitis (feline), grafts (conjunctival pedicle, CCT, penetrating keratoplasty), feline corneal sequestrum (pigmented stromal plaque, Persian/Himalayan).

~10%

Ocular Anatomy & Physiology

Tapetum lucidum cellulosum (carnivores) vs fibrosum (herbivores), optic disc myelination begins in retina in dog (larger disc), aqueous humor dynamics (ciliary body production, conventional trabecular/pectinate ligament outflow, uveoscleral outflow — larger fraction in horse/cat — prostaglandin analog implication), orbit bony completeness (complete horse/ruminant, incomplete dog/cat), lacrimal system, neuro-ophthalmic pathways (PLR afferent CN II, efferent CN III; menace requires visual cortex and CN VII; dazzle subcortical).

~10%

Diagnostics & Imaging

Schirmer tear test (STT-1 normal dog >15 mm/min; <10 diagnostic KCS; 11-14 suggestive), tonometry (Tono-Pen applanation, Tonovet/TonoVet Plus rebound with species calibration d/c/h/p), fluorescein (epithelial defects, Jones test for nasolacrimal patency, Seidel for aqueous leak), rose bengal/lissamine green (devitalized epithelium — FHV-1), TFBUT <10 s abnormal, gonioscopy (pectinate ligament dysplasia grading), ERG (SARDS flatline extinguished, PRA attenuated), ocular ultrasound, OCT, fluorescein angiography.

~10%

Glaucoma

Primary closed-angle (goniodysgenesis/PLD — Basset Hound, Cocker, Bouvier, Siberian Husky, Dandie Dinmont), primary open-angle (Beagle — ADAMTS10), secondary (uveitis — feline most common, lens luxation, neoplasia, hyphema), medical (topical CAIs dorzolamide/brinzolamide, prostaglandin analogs latanoprost — contraindicated with anterior lens luxation and limited efficacy in cats, timolol, mannitol), surgical (endolaser cyclophotocoagulation, transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation, gonioimplants — Ahmed, intrascleral prosthesis after evisceration, enucleation).

~8%

Eyelid & Adnexa

Entropion (Hotz-Celsus, modified Wyman, Stades, medial canthoplasty for brachycephalic), ectropion (V-Y plasty, Kuhnt-Szymanowski), distichiasis (cryotherapy, electroepilation, transconjunctival excision), ectopic cilia (transconjunctival en bloc), trichiasis (medial canthal — medial canthoplasty), lagophthalmos (brachycephalic ocular syndrome), eyelid masses (Meibomian adenoma most common benign in dog; SCC on non-pigmented in cat/horse/cattle), cherry eye nictitans gland prolapse (Morgan pocket or anchoring — never excise — preserve tear production).

~8%

Uvea & Uveitis

Clinical signs (miosis, hypopyon, aqueous flare, hyphema, keratic precipitates, low IOP), canine infectious (Blastomyces, Cryptococcus, Ehrlichia, Leptospira, Leishmania, RMSF), feline (FIP, FeLV, FIV, toxoplasmosis, bartonellosis, cryptococcosis), uveodermatologic syndrome (VKH-like — Akita/Samoyed/Siberian Husky — granulomatous panuveitis + poliosis/vitiligo), lens-induced (phacoclastic, phacolytic), iris cysts vs melanosis vs melanoma (feline diffuse iris melanoma — enucleation when progressive), equine recurrent uveitis (ERU — Leptospira interrogans, Appaloosa predisposed — suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant).

~8%

Retina & Posterior Segment

Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd PRCD autosomal recessive — Poodle/Cocker/Labrador; rcd1 PDE6B — Irish Setter; XLPRA — Siberian Husky/Samoyed; Collie eye anomaly CEA — NHEJ1), SARDS (middle-aged spayed females — flat ERG — elevated ALP/cortisol — Cushing-like), retinal detachment (rhegmatogenous, exudative — hypertension/hyperthyroidism in cat, tractional), hypertensive chorioretinopathy (feline >160 mmHg systolic), taurine deficiency retinopathy (FCRD hyperreflective crescent), optic neuritis (GME in dog), Coats-like exudative retinopathy.

~6%

Lens

Cataracts — inherited (HSF4 Boston Terrier/Australian Shepherd/Staffordshire Bull Terrier), diabetic (aldose reductase sorbitol — ~75% dogs within 1 year of diagnosis), senile, nutritional (milk replacer), secondary to PRA/uveitis/trauma/toxins; classification (incipient/immature/mature/hypermature/resorbing — Morgagnian); phacoemulsification preop workup (retinal exam, ERG, ocular ultrasound; IOL ~41 D dog, ~53 D cat); lens luxation — primary (ADAMTS17 — Terriers), secondary (uveitis, glaucoma, trauma); anterior luxation emergency ICCE; posterior luxation medical with miotics; nuclear sclerosis vs cataract differentiation.

~5%

Orbital Disease

Orbital cellulitis/abscess (painful on mouth opening, exophthalmos, chemosis, third eyelid protrusion; anaerobic/foreign body migration), orbital neoplasia (progressive non-painful exophthalmos in older animal — CT/MRI; adenocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, MCT, lymphoma), masticatory muscle myositis (MMM type 2M autoantibodies — acute swelling then chronic atrophy), extraocular myositis (young Golden Retriever — bilateral exophthalmos, restrictive strabismus), zygomatic sialocele, proptosis (brachycephalic — globe salvage possible if ≤3 extraocular muscle avulsions and intact optic nerve).

~5%

Conjunctiva & Nictitans

Infectious conjunctivitis (canine distemper/CAV-1; feline FHV-1 most common/Chlamydia felis/Mycoplasma; equine Thelazia; bovine Moraxella pinkeye IBK), allergic, follicular (young dog nictitans lymphoid hyperplasia), ligneous conjunctivitis (Doberman — plasminogen deficiency), parasitic (Onchocerca, Thelazia), nictitans gland prolapse cherry eye (Morgan pocket or anchoring — never excise), third eyelid scrolled cartilage (T-resection), symblepharon (feline post-neonatal FHV-1).

~4%

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)

Immune-mediated lacrimal adenitis (most common — Cocker, WHWT, English Bulldog, Pug), congenital (Yorkie, Cavalier), drug-induced (sulfa — sulfadiazine, etodolac, atropine), neurogenic KCS (CN VII facial nerve with ipsilateral dry nose — pilocarpine), endocrine (hypothyroidism, diabetes), post-radiation, distemper, cherry eye history; STT-1 <10 mm/min diagnostic, 11-14 suggestive; TFBUT <10 s qualitative tear film disease; therapy — cyclosporine 0.2-2%, tacrolimus 0.02-0.03%, pilocarpine for neurogenic, artificial tears; parotid duct transposition as salvage.

~4%

Equine Ophthalmology

Equine recurrent uveitis (Leptospira interrogans pomona/grippotyphosa — Appaloosa/warmblood predisposed — heterochromia iridis, cataract, glaucoma — suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant, core vitrectomy), equine corneal ulcers (fungal Aspergillus/Fusarium — intrastromal voriconazole; bacterial Pseudomonas collagenolysis), stromal abscess (fungal — amphotericin B), immune-mediated keratitis IMMK (superficial, mid-stromal, endothelial), SCC at limbus/eyelid (UV, unpigmented Appaloosa/Paint), periocular sarcoid, heterochromia, corpora nigra iris cysts.

~3%

Globe & Sclera

Microphthalmia vs anophthalmia (Australian Shepherd merle MITF), buphthalmos (end-stage glaucoma), phthisis bulbi (shrunken non-functional globe), nodular granulomatous episcleritis (Collie — steroids, tetracycline/niacinamide, azathioprine), necrotizing scleritis, globe rupture traumatic, enucleation (transpalpebral vs subconjunctival — subconjunctival contraindicated with infection/neoplasia), evisceration with intrascleral prosthesis (contraindicated with infection/neoplasia), staphyloma, coloboma (typical inferonasal from fetal fissure closure failure).

~3%

Feline-Specific Ophthalmology

FHV-1 (dendritic keratitis rose bengal positive; symblepharon in neonates; corneal sequestrum pigmented stromal plaque — Persian/Himalayan; eosinophilic keratitis), chlamydial and mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, feline diffuse iris melanoma (enucleation when dyscoria/elevated IOP or progressive pigmentation — metastatic risk), feline uveitis (FIP pyogranulomatous, FeLV/FIV, toxoplasmosis, bartonellosis, cryptococcosis), taurine deficiency retinopathy (FCRD bilateral hyperreflective crescent area centralis), hypertensive retinopathy/chorioretinopathy, post-traumatic ocular sarcoma (years after trauma).

~2%

Exotic & Large Animal

Avian pecten oculi (nutrition for retina — no intraretinal vessels), scleral ossicles, striated ciliary muscle (voluntary accommodation), Harderian gland, avian cataracts (Amazons post-viral) and PRA (cockatiels), raptor ocular trauma, rabbit dacryocystitis (maxillary molar root impingement — flush via ventromedial punctum), rabbit Encephalitozoon cuniculi phacoclastic uveitis (in utero transmission), reptile spectacle (fused eyelid dysecdysis — sub-spectacular fluid), bovine IBK (Moraxella bovoculi/bovis), ocular SCC in cattle.

~2%

Ocular Neoplasia

Canine — limbal/epibulbar melanocytoma (young, benign, lamellar keratectomy), iridociliary adenoma/adenocarcinoma (older, enucleation), anterior uveal melanoma (generally benign in dog — unlike cat), third eyelid gland adenocarcinoma, SCC; Feline — diffuse iris melanoma (metastatic potential rises with progression, enucleation with dyscoria/glaucoma), post-traumatic ocular sarcoma (years after trauma, aggressive), SCC of non-pigmented adnexa; Equine — limbal/third eyelid SCC, sarcoid; Bovine — SCC; Lymphoma (cat, cattle).

How to Pass the ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Criterion-referenced standard set by the ACVO Examination Committee (modified Angoff)
Exam length: 200 questions
Time limit: Multi-day examination (written + clinical + surgical practical)
Exam fee: ~$2,000 Certifying Examination fee (ACVO 2026 — verify current schedule)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize Schirmer tear test cutoffs: STT-1 in the dog >15 mm/min normal, 11-14 suggestive of tear film disease, <10 mm/min diagnostic for KCS. Cats have wider physiologic variability (often 3-32 mm/min) — diagnosis relies more on clinical signs and TFBUT (<10 s abnormal). Tono-Pen uses applanation; Tonovet/TonoVet Plus uses rebound with species-specific calibration (d = dog, c = cat, h = horse, p = other). Mean normal IOP in dog/cat ~15-25 mmHg, with ≤8 mmHg asymmetry between eyes.

2PRA genetics are high-yield: prcd (PRCD gene, autosomal recessive) is the most common form across Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Labrador Retriever. rcd1 (PDE6B) causes early-onset PRA in the Irish Setter. XLPRA (X-linked, RPGR) affects Siberian Husky and Samoyed. Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is autosomal recessive in NHEJ1 — choroidal hypoplasia, colobomas, retinal detachment. SARDS is distinct — middle-aged spayed females, acute blindness, flat ERG, often elevated ALP/cortisol mimicking Cushing's.

3Glaucoma breed predispositions: primary closed-angle with goniodysgenesis (pectinate ligament dysplasia) — Basset Hound, American Cocker Spaniel, Bouvier des Flandres, Siberian Husky, Dandie Dinmont, Samoyed. Primary open-angle glaucoma is classically the Beagle model (ADAMTS10 mutation). Latanoprost (prostaglandin analog) is effective in dogs but CONTRAINDICATED with anterior lens luxation and has limited efficacy in cats — use topical CAIs (dorzolamide, brinzolamide) and timolol in cats instead.

4Appaloosa horses are predisposed to equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) with Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona and grippotyphosa — characterized by heterochromia iridis, bilateral involvement, high risk of cataract, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant reduces recurrence; core (pars plana) vitrectomy removes leptospiral antigen. The Appaloosa's lack of uveal pigmentation in non-pigmented skin also predisposes to periocular SCC — always evaluate eyelid margins.

5Cataract genetics and diabetic pathway: HSF4 mutation (autosomal recessive) in Boston Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Diabetic cataracts result from aldose reductase converting glucose to sorbitol in the lens, causing osmotic damage — approximately 75% of diabetic dogs develop cataracts within one year of diagnosis (cats far less susceptible due to low lens aldose reductase activity). Preop phacoemulsification requires ocular ultrasound (rule out retinal detachment/vitreal changes) and ERG (confirms functional retina) because cataract obscures fundus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACVO Veterinary Ophthalmology Certifying Examination?

The ACVO Certifying Examination is the credentialing examination administered by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists for Diplomate status. It is a multi-phase examination comprising a written section (~200 single-best-answer MCQs), a clinical/medical practical (ophthalmic examination, imaging, case management), and a surgical practical (wet-lab and technique assessment). Content spans cornea, adnexa, uveitis, glaucoma, retina, lens, orbital disease, and species-specific feline, equine, and exotic ophthalmology.

Who is eligible to sit for the ACVO examination?

Candidates must hold a DVM, VMD, or equivalent veterinary degree and complete an ACVO-approved residency — typically three years of full-time training under ACVO Diplomate mentorship with required medical, surgical, clinical pathology, and neuro-ophthalmology rotations. An accepted first-author peer-reviewed scientific publication is required before or at the time of examination. The credentials packet undergoes review by the ACVO Examination Committee.

What is the format of the ACVO exam?

The ACVO Certifying Examination is a multi-day examination with three phases — a written examination of approximately 200 single-best-answer MCQs covering the full breadth of comparative ophthalmology; a medical/clinical practical assessing ophthalmic examination skills, imaging interpretation, and case management; and a surgical practical with wet-lab and technique assessment. All three phases must be passed to achieve Diplomate status.

How much does the 2026 ACVO exam cost?

The 2026 ACVO Certifying Examination fee is approximately $2,000 — always verify the current schedule on the ACVO website. Additional costs include travel to the testing site, study materials (Gelatt's Veterinary Ophthalmology, Maggs/Miller/Ofri), residency program fees, and required publication costs. Retakes of failed phases require re-registration and fee payment within the allowed qualification window.

When is the 2026 ACVO exam administered?

The ACVO Certifying Examination is typically held once annually. Application deadlines and credential review schedules are posted on the ACVO website. Candidates should monitor the ACVO certification page for specific 2026 examination dates, site locations, and application timelines.

How is the exam scored?

ACVO uses criterion-referenced scoring for the written phase (modified Angoff standard set by the Examination Committee) and structured rubrics for the clinical and surgical practicals. A candidate's pass/fail result on each phase depends on performance relative to the fixed cut-score. All three phases must be passed to earn Diplomate status; failed phases may be retaken per ACVO policy.

What are the highest-yield topics?

Highest-yield topics include Schirmer tear test and tonometry cutoffs with species-specific calibration, goniodysgenesis breed predispositions (Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel, Bouvier, Siberian Husky), Beagle primary open-angle glaucoma (ADAMTS10), PRA genetics (prcd, rcd1 PDE6B, XLPRA, CEA NHEJ1), SARDS clinical and ERG findings, equine recurrent uveitis with Appaloosa predisposition and Leptospira, feline diffuse iris melanoma management, HSF4 and diabetic cataracts with phacoemulsification workup, FHV-1 clinical spectrum (dendritic keratitis, sequestrum, symblepharon), uveodermatologic syndrome in Akita/Samoyed/Siberian Husky, and rabbit E. cuniculi phacoclastic uveitis.

How should I study for this exam?

Use a multi-year structured plan integrated with residency. Core texts include Gelatt's Veterinary Ophthalmology (comprehensive reference), Maggs/Miller/Ofri Slatter's Fundamentals, Equine Ophthalmology (Gilger), and the Veterinary Ophthalmology journal. Master diagnostics (STT, Tono-Pen/Tonovet, fluorescein, TFBUT, gonioscopy, ERG, ocular ultrasound) and practice interpretation with actual cases. Complete surgical wet labs on phacoemulsification, eyelid reconstruction, enucleation, and keratoplasty. Use high-volume MCQ practice and case-based rounds in the final 6-12 months before the certifying examination.