About
Our Story
Veterinary Ophthalmology Services (VOS) was founded by Dr Melissa Meehan in 2009, providing treatment for shelter animals with eye disease at the RSPCA in Burwood. VOS then developed into a successful mobile service, offering ophthalmic consultation and surgery at the RSPCA as well as numerous clinics throughout metropolitan Melbourne.
Seeking a more permanent base and with a young family to keep her busy, Melissa retured to her shelter routes in 2022 and took up a senior role at RSPCA Burwood where she developed an ophthalmology department, providing advanced ophthalmology services to countless shelter animals with eye disease. The unfortunate consequence of neglect and poor breeding within the shelter population, exposed Melissa to a large case load of highly unusual and challenging eye cases.
With her vast experience, Melissa also continues to service the commmunity of owned pets, seeing referral ophthalmology cases and internal referrals within the RSPCA private clinic.
Veterinary Ophthalmology is the study of animal eyes of all species (with the exception of humans!) Animal eyes are highly complex, finely tuned organs that have evolved to provide optimum vision for the needs of each individual species. Eyes can be quite unforgiving when it comes to disease management and all too often veterinary patients are not the best at communicating the presence of a painful or vision threatening condition. Early and accurate diagnosis reduces the risk of vision impairment and provides an optimum outcome for your patients. For this reason, ophthalmic conditions can be quite challenging and referral may be necessary.
Meet Dr Melissa Meehan
Dr Melissa Meehan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her 23 years as a veterinarian. Along with this Dr Melissa is highly conscientious and thorough with excellent communication skills and an unwavering dedication to the welfare of her patients. You can be assured that your pet will feel reassured and at ease in Dr Melissa’s consults.
Dr Melissa graduated with Honours from the Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Melbourne in 2002. Beginning her veterinary career as a mixed practice clinician in the Yarra Valley, she gained valuable experience with a broad range of species. Dr Melissa then practiced as a locum in Australia and overseas and began working in the media industry where she co-hosted her own radio show and was the resident veterinarian on channel 10’s Talk to the Animals and channel 9’s Guide to the Good Life. In 2013 Dr Melissa was proud to be invited to host The University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital tour, a short film showcasing the University of Melbourne Werribee Animal Hospital. Melissa continues her media work today and is currently a co-host on channel 10’s Pooches at Play!
Dr Melissa currently practices as a recognised professional interest and referral practitioner in ophthalmology. Dr Melissa has always had a keen interest in ophthalmology and began to focus on this area of veterinary medicine soon after graduating. In 2008 Dr Melissa became a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists through examination in Small Animal Medicine. Since this time Dr Melissa has undergone more than 2 years of college approved, residency training under the direct supervision of qualified veterinary ophthalmology specialists where she was fortunate enough to be exposed to a large range of clinical and surgical ophthalmology cases in a number of species, including animals at Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Dr Melissa also attended the ACVO William Magrane Basic Science Course in Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina in 2014 and is currently studying her Masters of Veterinary Medicine at Massey University.
Melissa continues her relationship with Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialists, referring cases to specialist practices when required.
Dr Melissa has attended and presented at numerous national and international conferences on the topic of veterinary ophthalmology. Her presentations include:
2008
Orbital fat prolapse in a dog
2009
Anterior chamber suture post TSCPC in dogs
2009
Ocular manifestations of systemic disease
2012
Dacryocystocoele in a dog – CT appearance and histological diagnosis
2013
Deprivation amblyopia in a dog secondary to corneal dermoids
2013
Treatment of Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca in dogs with Mesenchymal Stem cells – case series
2014
Anterior chamber suture reduces the incidence of post operative intraocular hypertension following transcleral cyclophotocoagulation
2015
Ocular manifestation of Feline Mycobacteriosis
Dr Meehan also enjoys providing further education for referring veterinarians with frequent presentations on the subject of veterinary ophthalmology. Dr Meehan has co-authored several publications and mentors veterinarians in the area of ophthalmology at the RSPCA Burwood clinic.
Dr Meehan has a passion for animal welfare, this led to a close relationship with the RSPCA where she has been assisting shelter animals with eye disease since 2009. Dr Meehan currently has 3 beautiful RSPCA rescue animals – the ever faithful 10 year old Mia the Spoodle, her best friend 9 year old Monty the Toy Poodle and 8 year old Finn the Birman cat.