About us
Dr. Rui Oliveira
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the FMV-UTL, in 2000. He has carried out small animal clinics since 2000 and has been providing a specialty consultation service in Veterinary Ophthalmology since March 2002. He obtained a Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2002, undertook several courses in ocular microsurgery and cataract surgery using phacoemulsification in Portugal and abroad, and completed the Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology RCVS (Specialty in Veterinary Ophthalmology) from the Royal College Veterinary Surgeons, in 2007. He founded the Ophthalmology service at the Hospital Veterinário do Restelo, of which he was responsible from 2004 until 2007, when he left to found the Veterinary Ophtalmologic Institute (IOV), where he remains until today. He is a pioneer in Veterinary Ophthalmology in Portugal, having been the first Veterinarian to perform phacoemulsification surgery with intraocular lens placement in animals, since 2003, and the first to perform endolaser glaucoma surgery throughout the Iberian Peninsula, since September 2009.
He is currently responsible for the private clinic and reference surgery service in this specialty and collaborates with most Equine Veterinarians across the country, providing support in the specialty of Ophthalmology. Additionally, he collaborates with Veterinary Hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where he consults animals referred from the UAE. He is a Veterinary Ophthalmology Consultant at the Lisbon Zoo, the Lisbon Oceanarium, Zoomarine in the Algarve, the Wild Animal Recovery Center in Monsanto-Lisbon and the Lobo Group in Malveira. With several publications, posters and oral presentations held at the International Veterinary Ophthalmology Meeting ECVO-ESVO.
Our Philosophy
Veterinary Ophthalmology Service
Our Ophthalmology Service aims to provide specialized medical and surgical care to all animals with diverse ophthalmological changes. To this end, we have advanced diagnostic techniques, such as slit-lamp biomicroscopy, gonioscopy, tonometry (measurement of intraocular pressure), electroretinography (functional retinal test) and ocular ultrasound. We carry out Ophthalmology consultations in the most diverse species, namely dogs, cats, small mammals and horses.
Veterinary Ophthalmology Service
Our Services
The first visit includes a complete eye examination. This consists of measurement of tear production and intraocular pressure, evaluation of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, and finally, fundoscopy. Other complementary exams may be carried out, if there is an indication to do so.
Additionally, we have all the necessary equipment to perform various ophthalmological surgeries, including the removal of eyelid masses, resolution of corneal sequestrations, cataract surgery, emergency surgery in cases of eye perforation, among others. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact our services.
Ophthalmic Examinations
OFA & Certifying Examinations
Surgical
Services
Ocular
Diagnostics
Emergencies
For Veterinarians
We believe that animals receive the best care when the referring Veterinarian and the Veterinary Ophthalmologist work collaboratively. This is only achieved through efficient and timely communication between the two parties. Therefore, the IOV undertakes to communicate to the referring MV, after carrying out the consultation and via telephone or e-mail, the diagnosis and medical treatment recommended for the referenced animal.
All clinical cases are different. More complex cases may require continued specialized care, while some simpler cases may be monitored by the referring vet. Tutors will be assisted during the Ophthalmology consultation about the type of following care needed.
If you would like to refer a case, do not hesitate to contact our services.
Make an appointment
FAQ
Do you only carry out consultations on dogs and cats?
Our Ophthalmology Service aims to provide specialized care for the most diverse species, including dogs, cats, small mammals and horses.
My pet has a red eye. What could it be?
Red eye is a relatively common challenge in the veterinary clinic. It is a non-specific clinical sign of ocular inflammation, related to various diseases. Some of them are serious, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent vision loss. Therefore, these clinical cases should be referred to an Ophthalmologist, to carry out a complete ophthalmological examination and obtain the best possible prognosis.
My pet was scratched in the eye by another animal. Should I be worried?
Corneal ulcers often arise from traumatic causes, such as the one described above. However, more serious cases can result in eye perforation and damage to intraocular structures, such as the lens. These consist of ophthalmological emergencies that require an accurate diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention, as they can result in visual loss.
My pet is having more ocular discharge. Is it normal?
Eye discharge can have several causes, such as conjunctivitis, changes in the nasolacrimal duct, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and eyelid changes. All the described causes have different treatments, which is why it is essential to identify them through a complete ophthalmological examination.
My pet has a white opacity in the eye. Can’t he see anymore?
A whiter color of the eye is often attributed to the presence of cataracts in the lens. The greater or lesser visual capacity depends on the degree of opacity of the lens, although all cataracts tend to progress over time, resulting in a blind eye. Fortunately, there is surgical treatment for removing cataracts, being the prognosis favored if the disease is diagnosed in a timely manner.