Dr. Brittany Schlesener, DVM, DACVO
I am a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO) with a passion for comparative ophthalmology, practical veterinary education, and improving quality of life for patients with ocular disease. I am also affectionately known as Dr. Sparkles!
I graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. I then completed a small animal rotating internship at Michigan State University, followed by a comparative ophthalmology internship at the University of California-Davis. I went on to complete a three-year residency in comparative ophthalmology at Cornell University from 2019–2022 before becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
I am passionate about making ophthalmology approachable, practical, and useful for general practitioners and veterinary teams. My clinical interests include emergency ophthalmology, ocular surface disease, and the management of canine and feline ophthalmic conditions, with a particular focus on preserving vision and addressing quality-of-life concerns. I am also interested in the evolving role of artificial intelligence in veterinary ophthalmology and how emerging technology can be thoughtfully incorporated into clinical practice and veterinary education.
Four years ago, I had the opportunity to build the ophthalmology service from the ground up at Fetch Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centers in Brandon, Florida. Developing the service from its foundation has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career, allowing me to create workflows, protocols, and a clinical program designed to provide high-quality specialty ophthalmic care within an emergency and specialty hospital. I am excited to bring that experience to the development of the ophthalmology service at the new Fetch location in Greenville, South Carolina.
When I’m not saving eyes, I love exploring national parks with my husband, Jimmy, our daughter, Audrey, and our two animals: Minerva McGonagall, our tabby cat, and Belle, our German Shorthaired Pointer. I also love finding Hidden Mickeys at Disney World, reading a good book, listening to the Stuff You Should Know podcast, and watching The Golden Girls.
General veterinary ophthalmology, practical ophthalmic knowledge for general practitioners, veterinary continuing education, emergency ophthalmology and ocular emergencies, fundamentals of ocular surface disease and management, and applications of artificial intelligence in veterinary ophthalmology.