Ophthalmology For Animals

What Ophthalmology For Animals does

Ophthalmology For Animals is a privately held veterinary ophthalmology specialty practice founded in 1998 and headquartered in Aptos, California. It serves pet owners across the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay region with a single stationary clinic plus a mobile equine service covering an approximately 20-mile radius. The practice's clinical scope is concentrated on advanced ocular care for small animals — including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, corneal ulcer management, and related diagnostics — delivered by a team of two ACVO Diplomate board-certified ophthalmologists (Dr. Horikawa and Dr. Lavallée) and one resident (Dr. Gunsalus), supported by approximately five technicians, one hospital manager, one customer service representative, and one veterinary assistant.

The business model is fee-for-service veterinary medicine: revenue is generated per visit, per procedure, and per prescription, with a sales-led referral-driven go-to-market that depends on primary care veterinarians channeling cases to the specialty team. An online pharmacy integration (OurVet) extends the practice into recurring prescription fulfillment, and a 24/7 ophthalmology emergency service has been added to capture urgent caseload that would otherwise route elsewhere. Formal affiliations with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, the Monterey Bay Area Veterinary Medical Association, and the Vision for Animals Foundation reinforce referral credibility and clinical standing.

There is no evidence of external funding, technology platform development, or multi-site expansion; the company operates as a founder/owner-led specialty clinic with a stable, small employee base. The principal assets are clinical — board-certified talent, established referring-veterinarian relationships, and a 25-plus-year operating history in a defined geographic market.

Name

Ophthalmology For Animals

Legal name

Ophthalmology For Animals

Website

https://ofora.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ophthalmology For Animals is a private veterinary ophthalmology specialty clinic in Aptos, California, serving pet owners in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area with advanced ocular surgery, diagnostics, and equine mobile services delivered by ACVO board-certified ophthalmologists via primary-care referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialty Centers (HLAMACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Imaging, Surgery & Specialty Referral Centers (AFAEANAG), Veterinary Surgery Centers (Soft Tissue/Orthopedic/Neuro) (HLAMACAC)

Keywords

• Veterinary ophthalmology services
• Animal eye care
• Veterinary cataract surgery
• Veterinary glaucoma treatment
• Equine ophthalmology

Headquarters

HQ city

Aptos, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Specialty Services: Specialty veterinary ophthalmology services including consultations, diagnostic examinations, and surgical procedures for animals
2. Pet Pharmacy: Online pharmacy for pet ophthalmic medications through partnership with OurVet, plus clinic pickup option for prescription refills
3. Clinical Trial Services: Participation in clinical trials for novel ophthalmic medications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ophthalmology for Animals is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmology specialty practice that diagnoses and treats ocular diseases in dogs, cats, horses, and exotic animals through surgical procedures (cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, corneal grafting, eyelid surgery) and medical management. The practice operates from a single clinic in Aptos, California, serving the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Area with referral-based specialty consultations, advanced diagnostics, and 24/7 emergency on-call coverage.

Product overview

Ophthalmology for Animals (OforA) is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmology specialty practice offering comprehensive eye care for dogs, cats, horses, and exotic animals. The practice operates as a single-location service business with core clinical services spanning surgical procedures (cataract surgery via phacoemulsification, glaucoma surgery including endolaser and Ahmed Valve, corneal ulcer treatment with grafts and crosslinking, eyelid surgery, lens luxation surgery), medical management of ocular diseases (dry eye/KCS, retinal diseases, entropion, pigmentary keratitis, pannus, feline herpesvirus), and specialized equine ophthalmology. Supporting services include an online pharmacy via OurVet partnership for home delivery of medications, clinic-based prescription pickup, OFA/CAER eye certification examinations for breeders, and balanced anesthesia with state-of-the-art monitoring. The practice was established in 1998 and is located in Aptos, California, serving the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery (Phacoemulsification) Surgical removal of cataracts using phacoemulsification with artificial lens placement to restore vision in dogs and cats, including pre-operative evaluation, electroretinography, and post-operative rechecks.
• Glaucoma Management Medical and surgical treatment for glaucoma in animals, including Ahmed Valve/gonioshunt implantation, endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (endolaser/ECP), and ongoing intraocular pressure management.
• Corneal Ulcer Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of corneal ulcers including medical management, surgical repair with conjunctival, corneal, or acellular collagen grafts, and corneal crosslinking for accelerated healing.
• Dry Eye Disease (KCS) Treatment Medical management of keratoconjunctivitis sicca using lacrimostimulants (cyclosporine, tacrolimus), artificial tears, and surgical options including parotid duct transposition and episcleral cyclosporine implants.
• Eyelid Surgery Surgical correction of eyelid abnormalities including entropion, ectropion, macroblepharon, eyelid agenesis, distichiae, ectopic cilia removal, and eyelid tumor excision.
• Third Eyelid Gland Prolapse (Cherry Eye) Repair Surgical repair of prolapsed third eyelid gland to restore tear film production and prevent dry eye disease in dogs.
• Retinal Disease Evaluation Diagnostic evaluation of retinal conditions using ocular ultrasound and electroretinography to assess inherited, infectious, metabolic, or degenerative retinal diseases.
• OFA/CAER Eye Certification Examination Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) examination performed by ACVO board-certified ophthalmologists to screen breeding dogs for heritable eye conditions.
• Equine Ophthalmology Service Specialized eye care for horses within approximately a 20-mile radius of Aptos, CA, including diagnosis and management of equine ocular diseases in collaboration with local equine veterinarians.
• Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) Treatment Medical management and surgical implantation of cyclosporine-releasing devices to control recurrent uveitis flare-ups and maintain vision in horses.
• Endothelial Dystrophy Treatment Medical and surgical management of corneal endothelial dystrophy, including modified Gundersen graft/SKCAHF procedures for dogs with corneal edema.
• Lens Luxation Treatment Surgical lens removal for anterior or posterior lens luxation, with options for artificial lens placement to restore vision and prevent complications such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.
• Emergency On-Call Ophthalmology Services After-hours emergency ophthalmology services for referring veterinarians and pre-existing clients, available Mon-Fri 5pm-10pm and Sat-Sun 7am-10pm via dedicated phone line.
• Online Pet Pharmacy (Home Delivery) Home delivery pharmacy service through OurVet partnership for ordering pet ophthalmic medications, including new prescriptions and refills delivered to the customer's door.
• Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1) Management Medical management of FHV-1 ocular disease in cats using antiviral medications, anti-inflammatory treatments, and stress-reduction recommendations to minimize viral reactivation.
• Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis Treatment Monitoring and management of pigmentary uveitis and associated glaucoma in Golden Retrievers, including medical therapy and surgical options for blind, painful eyes.
• Chronic Superficial Keratitis (Pannus) Treatment Lifelong immunomodulating treatment using cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and anti-inflammatory medications to control progressive corneal disease in German Shepherds and other affected breeds.
• SARDS Diagnostic Evaluation Diagnostic evaluation using electroretinography (ERG) to confirm Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome-related blindness in dogs, with guidance on management and adaptation.
• Balanced Anesthesia Services Tailored anesthesia protocols with state-of-the-art monitoring including pulse oximetry, capnography, electrocardiography, and blood pressure monitoring to support safe surgical procedures.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OurVetcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline pharmacy partnership through OurVet platform for pet ophthalmic medications. Provides home delivery of prescriptions and prescription refills directly to pet owners' doors.
• American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association membership. Board-certified ophthalmologists are ACVO Diplomates. Practice participates in ACVO National Service Animal Eye Exam program.
• Monterey Bay Area Veterinary Medical Association (MBAVMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Horikawa serves as Vice President of MBAVMA, connecting the practice with the local veterinary medical community.
• Vision for Animals Foundation (VAF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Horikawa is a recent past board member of VAF, which improves quality of life of animals by advancing eye health through science and education.
• Primary VeterinarianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with family veterinarians for continuity of care. Practice works with referring vets, emergency veterinarians, and other specialists. Visit summaries provided to primary veterinarians after each appointment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• MedVet: Large network of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals across the U.S., including board-certified ophthalmologists performing cataract and glaucoma surgery. Broader incumbent offering ophthalmology as one specialty within a multi-specialty hospital portfolio.
• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC): Large non-profit specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in New York City with a dedicated ophthalmology service. Broad incumbent — provides equivalent specialty capability within a multi-specialty academic-affiliated hospital.
• VCA Animal Hospitals: One of the largest veterinary hospital networks in North America, owned by Mars, with many locations staffed by or referring to ACVO Diplomates. Broad incumbent — overlapping capability via in-network specialists, not a focused ophthalmology peer.
• BluePearl Veterinary Partners: National network of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals with ophthalmology departments. Broad incumbent — provides overlapping specialty capabilities but operates as part of a multi-specialty referral hospital footprint rather than a pure ophthalmology practice.

Direct peers

• Animal Eye Center: Specialty veterinary ophthalmology practices operating in select U.S. markets, offering cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, and ocular diagnostics. Direct peer — focused single-specialty ophthalmology model with similar referral-driven service mix.
• Eye Care for Animals: Multi-location specialty veterinary ophthalmology practice with locations across the U.S., offering cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, and corneal procedures. Direct peer — same specialty, same surgical capabilities, same referral-driven model, but at much greater geographic scale.
• Veterinary Vision: Specialty veterinary ophthalmology practice offering cataract surgery, glaucoma management, and equine ophthalmology in Northern California. Direct peer — overlapping geographic market, identical specialty scope, and comparable ACVO Diplomate–led model.
• Animal Ophthalmology Clinic: Specialty veterinary ophthalmology practice offering medical and surgical ocular care for small animals and equines. Direct peer — same single-specialty focus, similar referral acquisition model, and comparable set of advanced surgical procedures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ophthalmology-for-animals

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ophthalmology For Animals