It’s been just a few months since board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist Gwendolyn Lynch, DVM, Dipl. ACVO, became affiliated with Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. But in this short time, Lynch has provided many patients with much-needed specialized eye care, using equipment not available elsewhere in Northern Virginia.

“Because the houses such state-of-the-art equipment, we can do procedures there that are just not available anywhere else in this area,” Lynch said. “Clients would have to travel to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Blacksburg, Va., to have some of the treatments available at the .”

Lynch is based out of Eye Care for Animals at the LifeCentre in Leesburg, and she sees patients at the equine medical center on a weekly basis. To diagnose horses with ocular problems, Lynch utilizes a handheld biomicroscope to obtain a detailed look at the front half of the eye, an ophthalmoscope to look at the back of the eye, special stains to highlight corneal problems, a tonometer to test for glaucoma, an ocular ultrasound to look for retinal detachment, and an electroretinogram to test for retinal function. Specialized surgical equipment includes an operating microscope, lasers, and a cryotherapy unit.

“Having such a specialized service available can only improve the quality of care that horses receive,” Lynch stated. “In collaborating with the , I can already see that we are able to provide a valuable service in the Mid-Atlantic region