Powhatan Today - News: All in a day’s work: Dr. Michael Blair, DVM

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All in a day’s work: Dr. Michael Blair, DVM
Published: September 01, 2010

Dr. Michael Blair, one of the few practicing Veterinary Ophthalmologists in Virginia, checks on Gigi. Below: Blair performs a delicate surgery on the eye of one of his canine patients.

By Richard Carrier
Contributing Writer

Even in the current era of medical specialization, Dr. Michael Blair’s practice squeezes into one of the smallest niches in the medical field. The 52-year-old is one of only approximately 300 Veterinary Ophthalmologists in the entire United States, and his Cary Street practice is devoted exclusively to eye diseases and eye related surgery for animals.

Animal Eye Care of Richmond – and its one doctor – schedules approximately 450 patients per month and, as the only Veterinary Ophthalmology practice in Central Virginia, draws patients from Williamsburg to Harrisonburg. “We do all procedures and all species, which gives us a lot of variety,” Dr. Blair said. This includes glaucoma treatment, lens transplants, cataract surgery, corneal transplants and retinal surgery.

Surgical procedures, including laser surgery, are done under the same protocols a human would experience in surgery. “We do lens transplants under a microscope and under general anesthesia, just the same as people,” Dr. Blair said.

Dr. Blair, after earning his Master in Pharmacology from St. Johns University, changed career fields and attended Michigan State Veterinary School. He interned at Michigan State and did his residency at Purdue University. A New York native, Dr. Blair wanted to return to the East Coast, but not the North East.

“We wanted a rural setting, a place for my wife’s horses and someplace not too far out,” he said. The Blair’s selected Powhatan County and settled here in 1999.

Of course, Animal Eye Care of Richmond has treated some exotic patients, including snakes, lizards, a recent cataract surgery for a Powhatan County Alpaca and primates from Virginia Commonwealth University‘s Research Labs; but the vast majority of the practice’s patients are dogs, cats, horses and rabbits, in that order, with the occasional “pocket pet” (hamster, lizard or bird) thrown into the mix.
Birds and reptiles are “dramatically different [from mammals],” Dr. Blair pointed out, and within the mammalian community, retinal work is probably the most challenging.

Man’s Best Friend is Dr. Blair’s most frequent patient and the mammal which responds best to treatment.

Cataract surgery, a fairly common procedure at AECR, costs between $2,000 and $2,500 for both eyes. Similar surgery for a rabbit? $1,000.
“I don’t charge as much (for a rabbit),” said Blair, “and I have fun doing it.”

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Jeffrey Anderson of Powhatan

Sep. 1, 2010, 10:07 PM

I am glad to see the K9 health care is important. But would also like to see that translated into care for our Veterans, I know how well it feels to have a pet,when the PTSD flare-ups come it is good to have a trusted friend around to watch your back.
I am an Honorable Discharged Veteran of the Viet Nam era, who works at the VA in Richmond. On 08/20/09 I was struck from behind in an MVA, I attempted to go to the VA Emergency Room prior to returning to work I was turned away with out being seen by a healthcare professional,turned away at the desk by a receptionist. I returned to work during the next week because I thought “it maybe just a muscle strain” On 09/01/2009 I was assiting a pt. to a safe position in bed( some times sick people think they can move better then they can) this guy was caught between bed and bedrail I assisted him to a safe and comfortable position by my self because we were short staffed felt something pull and a radiating pain from C-spine to rt elbow. I reported to Employee health and was directed to go see my PCP. I was placed on light duty for awhile and returned to duty with nagging pains in C-T-L- spine and rt. shoulder. In Oct I reported to ER again this time with because my ptsd was flaring up.I was denied care after a short time my blood pressure was 175/108 and untreated, I waived the co-pay issue I just needed to be seen about these problems, and thought since I work there and I am a vet it would be good to be seen by Staff there, so things would be in the loop. A dr. who put the PTSD orientation said ” I see vets and emplyeee here it should not be a problem to see you, One week and the next week he asked why do I think I need to see him. I told him the flarups were getting more intense and the therapy and imagery were not working now days.
On nov.23/2009 I reinjured my spine and rt shoulder was put on pain killers and muscle relaxers sent to PCP again. X-rays were done which showed a fracture and some injuries consistant with my fall. I returned to work on light duty and the pain became worse. In Dec. was in so much pain and distress I could not work, I was on the pain RX but it had stopped working. I have not been working since 12/10/09 because of these issues I have not recieved any compensation although it has been applied for several times my treatment has been denied or delayed by DOL/OWCP. I have had many humilitaing experiecnes with these enties that are Over seeing my care, or as I like to say” HellifIcare” healthcare. I have asked and submitted the forms by my representative handling my case Ihave submitted these thing a DOL blames OWCP. Heck I can not get the physician I requested who is on their list of DR.s who do work for them….
So please let me know who the DOG contacts for his health care….It is better than mine is!!!
I hope the Veterans coming home now do not have the same healthcare experience I have had….Jeff Anderson RN

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