[Nfbofsc] Attention all dog guide / service users, information about FREE eye exam for our partners!

Wed Apr 8 14:17:21 UTC 2015

Hi Everyone, this is Nancy VanderBrink and I am a dog guide user.

Below you will find information about the ACVO American  Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Annual program to give Free eye exams to Service dogs.  This includes dog teams ranging from guide to police and other dogs that have accredited papers from a certified program
I'm sending this because my first guide, Cole developed cataracts and we couldn't at the time afford to deal with the issue.  This is a free exam and as we all have to go have our eyes checked annually - at least I hope you do! - so should those that provide such a valuable service to us.
Below I have copied ALL of the information I could get from their website about the program.  Here's essentially what you do, you go online, and register your service/ dog guide, then you contact a vet's office who is providing the service in your area.  Thankfully there are two areas in South Carolina where these exams are being offered, Columbia and Greenville.  I have not yet completed the registration form so I don't know what clinics.
After you register, you call the clinics listed and ask for an appointment and you take your dog.  I did this a few years ago when I lived in Boston.  I had a sighted person go with me in case they did something that would impair Doc's vision, such as dilation, I do not remember whether he was fully functional afterwards.  As a precaution, I'm going to get a ride.  So, I encourage you all who have dogs and have their documentation, this is something that could be very important.

If you have any questions or concerns, email me at home, nvanderbrink at icloud.com
These appointments will take place during the month of May.
There is lots of information below, so please keep reading.
Nancy

The 8th ACVO/StokesRx National Service Animal Eye Exam event will provide a free screening-wellness eye exam to Service Animals including those provide the following services: guide, hearing assistance, drug detection, police/military, search and rescue, therapy, and those assisting people with disabilities other than blindness.
All animals must be formally trained, certified, currently working service animals OR formally trained therapy animals with proof of active registration. (Additionally, due to the IAADP's extensive membership requirements and screening, the ACVO will permit "current, active, Partner Members" of this organization to participate in the program.) Those currently enrolled in a formal service animal training program may also qualify, but is based upon clinic availability. Qualification paperwork for the training and current work status of either the Service Animal or therapy animal MUST be provided to the clinic at the time of the exam, in additional to the registration number provided in the confirmation email generated by the online registration. Please note that clinics may have limited availability.
The complimentary eye exam through your veterinary ophthalmologist is of a screening nature and is not appropriate for animals with known eye issues.

Puppies may participate in the program if they meet some general parameters:
1) They must be at least 3 months old at the time of the exam.

2) They must already be a part of a recognized, national or regional non-profit Service Animal training organization. (Therapy puppies in training are not permitted.)

3) This screening will not provide an OFA exam.

4) Examination of an entire littler may not be permitted, depending on the facility, due to limited appointment slots and the desire to 'spread the wealth' to numerous owners and groups.

I OWN A NON-CANINE SERVICE ANIMAL, MAY WE PARTICIPATE?
If you have a Service Animal other than a canine, you may still plan to register, afterwards call your local participating ophthalmologist to make sure that your species is able to participate in the event at that location (e.g. felines, equines, etc.) Horses are tricky because special facilities are needed to screen equines. We will provide a separate list for equine owners if you contact the office, and it may also be linked here after the launch of the event.

The definition of "qualified Service Animals" to be screened during this event applies only to this ACVO/StokesRX National Service Animal Eye Exam Event. ACVO is not a publicly funded organization and may define the qualification parameters for this event.

1. Data is being collected to be used in the future to identify potential eye problems associated with the work that certain groups of Service Animals perform; to keep the data useful we have to carefully set the criteria for participants.
2.  Over the past several years we have had some individuals claim their animal was a Service Animal, when it was not, just to take advantage of the eye exam. ACVO Diplomates generously donate their time and resources to provide these exams for Service Animals and we would like to encourage them to continue contributing to the program. Each clinic's resources are limited and if non-qualified animals fill the appointment slots then qualified animals may be excluded.  Additional parameters were set for qualification to help reduce the number of these occurrences.
If doctors feel their generosity is being abused by participants in the program, they may opt-out the following year, thus jeopardizing the existence of the event. Please be respectful of your clinic's limitations even if that means that your animal in particular may not qualify at this time.
The ACVO apologizes for any inconvenience our criteria for inclusion in this particular program may impose and we thank you for your support.

REGISTRATION PROCESS & EXPECTATIONS
Step 1 - Check that a clinic is located in the area that the examination will take place.  In South Carolina, exams are being offered in Columbia and Greenville, as of April 8, 2015.

Step 2 - Register qualifying animals and puppies via the online registration form. The form will be available here beginning April 1st.

Step 3 - Once registered, the owner/agent will be given a link to participating clinics and receive an email confirmation linking to the same information.

Step 4 - Contact the participating clinic to schedule an appointment and provide the registration number to the clinic. The confirmation number will be provided in the instant confirmation window after you complete registration, in addition to an email confirmation.

Step 5 - Important!
Service Animals - Owners/handlers must bring written proof of the Service Animal's certification paperwork (showing current certification) along with a copy of our program's confirmation email (showing registration) to the clinic for the appointment. If either documentation is missing, you may forfeit your examination time slot and/or may not be allowed to participate again in the future.
Therapy Animals - Owners/handlers must bring written proof of the current, registered certification paperwork (showing formal training and currently working) along with a copy of our program's confirmation email (showing pre-registration) to the clinic for the appointment. If either documentation is missing, you may forfeit your examination time slot and/or may not be allowed to participate again in the future.

Please note that you do not have an appointment set until you contact the doctor's office directly. More instructions for this process is included on registration page, once available.

APPOINTMENT DATES AND TIMES
Appointment dates and times may vary based on the availability of exams offered by each office. The clinic offices may offer exams for set days, for select times during specific days, or during times of their choice throughout the month of May.
While scheduling the appointment, please identify yourself as participating in the 'ACVO Service Animal program' and provide your registration number from your confirmation. Clinics will require that you also bring proof of the Service or Therapy Animal's formal training to the exam. (See Step 5 above).

Note: Clinics will at times establish additional parameters around scheduling exams. In order to 'spread the wealth' amongst the community they may limit the number of animals seen by one individual or program. This is not necessarily common practice but occasionally must occur when one client tries to schedule a large number of animals and limited slots remain available. Clinics may also have an assigned number of appointment slots for each type of participant.

Registration completion and confirmation does not guarantee an appointment at the clinic of your choice, nor does it infer qualification for the exam. More on program qualifications.

WHAT IS THE SCREENING EYE EXAM?
Once the animal is registered, call to set a specific appointment time. (Late arrivals may not be seen as all of our doctors are volunteering their time.)
The complimentary eye exam through your veterinary ophthalmologist is of a screening nature and is not appropriate for animals with known eye issues. It is expected that the majority of animals will be healthy and will not be in need of additional services. Should and eye problem be detected, your veterinary ophthalmologist can discuss the condition, but it may be necessary to schedule an additional appointment to address these issues.

What happens during the eye examination?
Data collected on each animal will remain private and be utilized for internal research purposes only.

REGISTRATION FOR 2015 BEGINS APRIL 1ST.

During the examination, the ophthalmologist will examine the eyes to determine if there are any abnormalities. The aim is to identify problems early. Some abnormalities might need to be treated to prevent or delay progression. Other sight-threatening problems such as retinal disease, cataracts, or glaucoma can be identified. The exam requires no sedation, requires minimal restraint, is non-painful, non-stressful, and usually takes 10-25 minutes.
Usually two diagnostic instruments are used:
The slit-lamp Biomicroscope is used to examine the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea and lens for any abnormalities such as extra lashes, corneal scars or other corneal opacities, eyelid or conjunctival growths, or cataracts.
The pupils may be dilated with Tropicamide to facilitate full examination of the lens, vitreous (gel behind the lens) and retina.The examination can be done without dilation, if elected, depending on the immediate working obligations of the animal and the resources available at each clinic. If dilated, then the drops take an additional 15-20 minutes to dilate the pupils. The dilating agent wears off in approximately 2 hours, and usually does not impair the dog's ability to work.
Other diagnostic modalities might also be used, depending on the initial examination with the slit-lamp:
Schirmer tear test strip to check tear production
Fluorescein stain for identification of corneal ulcers
Tonometry to check intraocular pressure
Exams procedures and timelines may vary from clinic to clinic.

Here is the link to the Registration page: http://www.mtgs-etc.com/registration/mi/acvo/SD15/dogreg_step1_2015.asp

Nancy E. VanderBrink
Access Technology Specialist
SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Outreach Services
A Palmetto Gold School
101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 120
Columbia, SC 29210

Mobile:                   803-983-0290
FAX                       803-896-9848
Toll Free:                800-984-4357
E-mail:                   nvanderbrink at scsdb.org
SCSDB Web Page: www.scsdb.org

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