Feline Ocular Challenges: Exploring the Hidden Causes of Eye Disease and Vision Loss in Cats

Description:

Feline eye diseases are often complex, multifactorial, and frustrating to manage — but with the right knowledge, they don’t have to be. This three-part series offers a deep dive into the most relevant and challenging ophthalmic conditions in cats, equipping veterinarians with practical diagnostic and treatment strategies for daily clinical use.

March 12, 2026: Feline keratoconjunctivitis. It all about herpes and stress!

Short summary: More than 80% of the cats in the world are carriers of feline herpes virus, and stress is a major factor in viral shedding. So it is not surprising that treatment of feline conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis is so frustrating and challenging. Learn all about the pathogenesis and clinical approach to feline conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis.

April 23, 2026: Cats are so special! Unusual diseases of the feline cornea

Short summary: Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis is undoubtedly the most common disease of the feline cornea. However, you may be presented with other diseases that are unique to the feline cornea, such as sequestrum, eosinophilic keratitis, acute bullous keratopathy, and other. Learn how to diagnose and treat these challenging diseases!

May 14, 2026: Why do cats go blind?

Short summary: Due to the popularity of pure-bred dogs, our canine patients suffer from a number of (mostly inherited) intraocular diseases including cataracts, retinal degeneration and glaucoma. In cats, the most common intraocular disease is uveitis. Many of the causes are systemic diseases that are potentially fatal, and patients frequently become blind, so proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Hypertensive retinopathy, glaucoma, and other causes of blindness are also discussed

Target Group:

Veterinarians in small animal practice, especially those with a focus or interest in feline medicine or veterinary ophthalmology. This seminar is ideal for clinicians seeking to deepen their knowledge of feline eye diseases and improve their diagnostic and therapeutic approach in everyday practice.

Seminar Objective:

To provide veterinarians with a practical and in-depth understanding of the most important and challenging ocular diseases in cats. Through three focused sessions, participants will gain the knowledge needed to confidently diagnose and manage conditions such as herpetic keratoconjunctivitis, rare corneal disorders, and the leading causes of feline blindness. Emphasis will be placed on clinical decision-making, case-based learning, and improving outcomes for feline patients.

Download Seminar Program as PDF:

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Speakers:

Prof. Ron Ofri

Ron Ofri was a member of the charter class of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Upon his graduation he traveled to the University of Florida, where he spent the next 4 years undergoing clinical training in veterinary ophthalmology and obtaining his Ph.D. During this time Ron developed an interest in the physiology of vision, focusing on retinal electrophysiology and animal models of retinal diseases. Upon his graduation Ron returned to Israel and joined the faculty of his alma mater, where he is currently a Professor in veterinary ophthalmology, and author of more than 90 refereed papers. Ron is a contributing author to the Gelatt's classic textbook Veterinary Ophthalmology (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th editions) as well as a co-author of the popular textbook Slatter's Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology (4th, 5th and 6th editions). Ron is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ECVO), a former ECVO Executive Board member and Scientific Committee member and in 2002-2005 he served as President of the European Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology.

Ron is also a very popular international speaker, having been invited to talk in more than 35 countries and 6 continents, lecturing in continuing education seminars, national meetings and world congresses for general practitioners, as well as advanced training courses for veterinary ophthalmologists. Ron has authored the chapter on Visual Optics in the last 4 editions of Gelatts Veterinary Ophthalmology. He has been lecturing on the topic, and teaching retinoscopy, at the ACVO Basic Science Course every 2 years since 2002, as well as in advanced symposiums in Asia, Australia, USA, and several European countries.