Ophthalmology

About Our Ophthalmology Department

The ophthalmology service at MVS offers a wide variety of intraocular, corneal and adnexal surgeries, each of which is performed by a board-certified specialist. Find below a list of the most common procedures performed. Please note that this is not a complete list of procedures offered.

Diagnostic procedures

Complete ophthalmic examinations including tear quality assessment, fluorescein staining, tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy
Electroretinography
Ocular and orbital ultrasonography

Corneal procedures

Conjunctival and other corneal grafts
Corneal laceration repair
Corneal foreign body removal
Debridement and corneal diamond burring for treatment of non-healing ulcers
Bandage contact lens placement for treatment of non-healing ulcers
Keratectomy for treatment of sequestra, dermoids and non-healing ulcers

Adnexal procedures

Entropion correction
Replacement of prolapsed third eyelid gland (“Cherry eye”)
Eyelid mass excision
Eyelid laceration repair
Cryotherapy for treatment of distichiasis, ectopic cilia, and eyelid masses
Eyelid margin reconstruction for eyelid agenesis and other eyelid defects
Temporary everting eyelid tacking for treatment of entropion

Intraocular procedures

Cataract surgery (phacoemulsification)

Other procedures

Enucleation
Evisceration with intrascleral prosthesis
Orbitotomy
Nasolacrimal system flushing, imaging and reconstruction

Additional Information

Dr. Aaron Sieve earned her undergraduate degree from Augustana College before completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Illinois. Following veterinary school, Dr. Sieve completed a small-animal rotating internship at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She then completed a one-year ophthalmology specialty internship at Animal Eye Consultants of Illinois.

Dr. Sieve continued her training at the University of Missouri, where she simultaneously completed an ophthalmology residency and a master’s degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. During her residency, she was recognized for her clinical and research abilities and received the Levy Resident Award in two consecutive years.

Dr. Sieve enjoys both the medical and surgical aspects of veterinary ophthalmology and is passionate about preserving vision and ocular comfort for pets. She has a special interest in the intricacies of corneal and cataract surgery.

Outside of work, Dr. Sieve enjoys crafting, spending time outdoors, and relaxing with her two dogs, Rhett—short for Retina—and Indie.

Dr. Sieve joins the team mid September and will begin seeing patients soon after – giving MVS 5 day a week ophthalmology coverage. We know that she will be invaluable to our team and our patients. We are also excited to congratulate Dr. Sieve on the passing of her board exams, officially completing the requirements to become a board-certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist.

A Wisconsin native, Dr. McDonald is excited to return to the area and serve the veterinary community close to home.

“I’m excited to bring additional routine and urgent eye care to the Madison community and throughout Wisconsin. So much has changed since I graduated 13 years ago, and I’m thrilled to be back.”

Dr. McDonald enjoys both medical and surgical ophthalmology, with particular interests in eyelid and corneal surgery. She also enjoys using a variety of treatment modalities to help promote ocular healing, including fresh-frozen amniotic membrane and laser therapy.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. McDonald has contributed to the advancement of veterinary ophthalmology through peer-reviewed research. She authored a paper describing the use of subdermal hyaluronic acid filler injections for the treatment of entropion in dogs and cats. The publication ranked among the journal’s 10 most downloaded articles during the year it was released and has since been shared by prominent veterinary content creators.

Dr. McDonald also authored research on the use of latanoprost in cats and is welcomed as an expert speaker at conferences throughout the country every year.

We are so excited to have her on the team. Her books are open and appointments are available to be scheduled. You can visit our website to refer a patient if you are a veterinarian or request an appointment if you are a pet owner.

Sarah joined the MVS team in April 2023.

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