K-State Veterinary Team to Provide Vision Exams for Service and Working Animals
As part of a national event, the ophthalmology team from Kansas State University's Veterinary Health Center will provide free eye exams for eligible service and working animals during the month of May.
The first visit will be to Kansas Specialty Dog Service, or KSDS, Assistance Dogs Inc. in Washington. KSDS is a nonprofit organization that provides guide dogs for people with blindness or low vision, service dogs to assist individuals with physical disabilities and facility dogs that assist professionals in the fields of education, counseling, health care, retirement and the legal system.
Each year, board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Hong Kong collectively provide more than 8,000 free eye exams as part of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists/Epicur Pharma National Service Animal Eye Exam event.
The Veterinary Health Center has participated in this philanthropic event since 2013. In 2024, the event marks its 15th year, with approximately 81,000 free eye examinations performed since it was established in 2008.
The doctors and staff at the Veterinary Health Center and participating board-certified ophthalmologists volunteer their services, staff and facilities for the event at no charge for service and working animals and their owners/agents.
This year, the K-State team includes Jessica Meekins and Amy Rankin, both professors of ophthalmology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, along with staff members Jennifer Klingele and Jordyn Orrison in the Veterinary Health Center's ophthalmology department. In addition to performing exams at the Veterinary Health Center, the team will go on the road in May to conduct eye exams.
"Our goal is to screen active service and working animals for eye diseases that could impact the ability to perform their jobs, and in doing so, help them better serve their human owners and handlers," Meekins said.
During the complete eye exam, Meekins and Rankin will look for problems including redness, squinting, cloudy corneas, retinal disease, early cataracts and other serious abnormalities. Early detection and treatment are vital for these animals.
Clients may schedule an appointment at the Veterinary Health Center by calling the small animal desk at (785) 532-5690. Each participant must register online prior to calling to schedule an exam. Registration is available through April 30th.