Claudia Hartley (BVSc CertVOphthal DipECVO FHEA FRVCS; BSAVA Woodrow Award)

Professor of Veterinary Ophthalmology

Biography

Background

Claudia Hartley graduated from Bristol University in 1995, after which she spent 9 years in general practice in large animal, mixed, and small animal practices. Whilst in first opinion practice she gained the certificate in veterinary ophthalmology and undertook a scholarship at Cambridge University. In 2004, Claudia joined the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and successfully gained the European diploma in veterinary ophthalmology in 2007. She was head of ophthalmology at the AHT 2009-2015, worked as a senior clinician in ophthalmology at Davies Veterinary Specialists 2015-2017, followed by four years as head of ophthalmology at the University of Bristol (2017-2021) re-establishing the department within the vet school. Claudia works with many charities worldwide, assisting with welfare and zoological ophthalmology cases. Claudia also undertakes a monthly consultant clinic in Equine Ophthalmology at Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket. Claudia has been an active committee member/chair, published numerous book chapters and scientific papers, and lectured both nationally and internationally on veterinary ophthalmology. She was awarded the BSAVA Woodrow Award for outstanding contributions in the field of small animal veterinary medicine in 2016 and Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018. In September 2021 Claudia joined the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science, where she is Professor of Veterinary Ophthalmology. 

Qualifications

  • 1995 Bachelor of Science, University of Bristol (BVSc)
  • RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology 2003 (CertVOphthal)
  • European Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology 2007 (DipECVO)
  • BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme – Eye Panellist qualification 2011

  • BSAVA Woodrow Award  for outstanding contribution in the field of small animal veterinary medicine 2016

  • Fellow of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice (FRCVS) 2018
  • Bristol Teaching Award via Cultivating Research-rich Education and Teaching Excellence (CREATE), (FHEA) 2021
  • Personal Chair of Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2024

Responsibilities & affiliations

  • Animal Health Trust - Head of Small Animal Ophthalmology - 2009-2011
  • Animal Health Trust - Head of Ophthalmology 2011-2015
  • University of Bristol - Head of Ophthalmology 2017-2021
  • Free The Bears - UK Trustee - 2020-present
  • University of Edinburgh - CertAVP representative for RCVS 2021-2022
  • University of Edinburgh - Infection Control Committee, 2021-present
  • University of Edinburgh - Post-graduate Convenor for DVetMed Programme 2022-present
  • President of International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium 2022-2024
  • Editorial Consultant Board (Equine Veterinary Journal) 2022-present
  • University of Edinburgh - Postgraduate Research Student Advisory Committee, 2022-present
  • University of Edinburgh -Postgraduate Research Learning and Teaching Committee, 2022-present

Undergraduate teaching

  • Clinical ophthalmology teaching for Years 3-5
  • Lecture provision in ophthalmology course (5/12)
  • Practical ophthalmology teaching - equine and small animal
  • Clinical rotations teaching in 5th year
  • Supervision of Student Research Component (SRC) for 11 students currently 
  • Professional mentor for 8 undergraduate students

Postgraduate teaching

  • Supervisor and mentor for ophthalmology residency students (ECVO & DVetMed) - current 4 DVetMed students, 3 ECVO students
  • Supervisor of equine ophthalmology teaching for UK ECVO residents (externships) 
  • Mentor for equine medicine residents in aspects of equine ophthalmology (Universities of Edinburgh & Glasgow, and private practices across UK and Europe)
  • Co-supervisor for MPhil student, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 
  • Co-supervisor for Biomedical Honour's student, University of Edinburgh
  • Post-graduate convenor for 65 DVetMed students - serving on PGR-SAC and PGR-LTC as well as mental health committee
  • Development and delivery of CPD courses in equine ophthalmology across UK
  • Development and delivery of CPD courses - BSAVA modular ophthalmology certificate, Improve International modular certificate (in person and online cohorts)

 

  • Supervised or co-supervised 16 residents, nine of whom have gained specialist status (DipECVO and RCVS recognition) and 6 are working in academia
  • Supervised eight ophthalmology interns on internship programmes, all of whom have attained residency positions following my supervision
  • Successfully supervised two MSc students, University of Bristol

Research summary

Veterinary Clinical Ophthalmology

  • Ocular biomarkers for CNL1 in a large animal model - OCT, ERG and retinal photography
  • Zoo & wildlife ophthalmology, particularly with respect to ocular abnormalities in ursid species
  • Equine ophthalmology, particularly with respect to corneal disease and equine recurrent uveitis

Current research interests

In collaboration with Tom Wishart group (Roslin): Ocular biomarkers for CNL1 in a large animal model - OCT, ERG, and retinal photography - as part of a larger clinical trial for treatments (enzyme replacement and gene therapies) Development of machine learning algorithm for automated retinal segmentation of the ovine retina with optical coherence tomography (OCT) Zoo & wildlife ophthalmology: Ocular abnormalities in bears rescued from bile farming and wildlife trade across Asia Systemic hypertension and retinal disease in captive (rescued) bears across Asia Mycobacteria and ocular disease in captive (rescued) bears across Asia Surgical outcomes for ocular disease in bears - adnexal, corneal, lens and retinal Cortisol markers (faecal and hair) in captive bears across Asia and correlation with systemic hypertension Corneal and lenticular disease in captive/rescued pinnipeds in the UK Equine ophthalmology: In vivo corneal microscopy and tear film abnormalities in horses with and without PPID Corneal dystrophy (pellucid marginal degeneration) in Friesian horses - electron microscopy and genomics Eosinophilic keratitis in the UK - geographical and climatic influences - outcomes of medical and surgical treatment options Fungal keratitis in the UK - geographical and climatic influences - outcomes of medical and surgical treatment options Collaborative multi-centre study of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) in spotted horses in UK - clinical and genomic insights Veterinary Clinical Ophthalmology: Corneal disease associated with Serratia marascens - clinical outcomes and factors affecting, bacterial resistance and sequencing to characterise and identify source of infections (particularly with regard to nosocomial infections) Ocular tear film parameters and abnormalities in dogs with and without atopic dermatitis

Past research interests

Tear film abnormalities in dogs and horses: Diurnal variation of tear production in normal dogs; Characterisation and outcomes for Cavalier King Charles spaniel dogs with congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca and ichythyosiform dermatosis (CKCSID); Identification of genetic mutation for CKCSID in Cavalier King Charles spaniel dogs Genetics: Frameshift mutation associated with late onset progressive retinal atrophy in Gordon and Irish Setters; A de novo FBN1 variant causing congenital bilateral ectopia lentis in a horse Treatments for equine recurrent uveitis: Suprachoroidal triamcinolone for treatment of recalcitrant ERU

Knowledge exchange

International charity work with zoo animals and wildlife:

  • multiple teaching workshops (both formal and informal) for veterinary graduates and undergraduates in Asia (India, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and China) in conjunction with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
  • support and teaching remotely after these workshops to these students (and students of these students)

some of the work has attracted media attention for wider dissemination

Keynote speaker:

  • European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ECVO; on zoological and ‘exotic’ animal ophthalmology, Amsterdam, June, 200-400 delegates),
  • European College of Veterinary Surgery (ECVS; on orbital imaging, pathology and surgery, Valencia, Spain, July, 700-1000 delegates),
  • European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN; on ophthalmological causes and investigation of acute vision loss, Porto, Portugal, Sept, 300-500 delegates).
  • Nordic Equine Veterinary Conference (Iceland, approx. 450 delegates).

Book chapters in seminal veterinary ophthalmology reference textbooks:

  • Gelatt’s Veterinary Ophthalmology 5th and 6th eds – required reading for ECVO qualifying exams) - two chapters
  • BSAVA manual on Veterinary Ophthalmology (3rd ed) aimed at the general practitioner with ophthalmic interest
  • Gilger’s Equine Ophthalmology textbook (3rd & 4th eds - required reading for ECVO qualifying exams) - two chapters 
  • ‘Eyes’ chapter in Munroe’s Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction (2nd ed) which are widely read by equine practitioners and ophthalmologists alike.
  • Wild and Exotic Animal Ophthalmology (1st ed) - one chapter (Ursidae)

Development of & provision of training for continuing professional development (CPD):

From 2004-2014 I served on the British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmology (BrAVO) committee, culminating in the role of Chair 2011-2014.

Whilst President of International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium (IEOC): organising IEOC conference in Edinburgh, UK, June 1-4th 2023 along with satellite meeting around the 2023 IEOC conference for undergraduate and post-graduate veterinarians that was income generating and reputation-building in equine ophthalmology for the University

collaborated to develop the curriculum for a post-graduate modular 3-year post-graduate certificate course as part of a committee of fellow specialist ophthalmologists, two advanced practitioners in first opinion practice, and BSAVA education committee staff for attainment of a Nottingham Trent University-accredited and RCVS advanced practitioner level qualification in 2013. Delivered two of these (20) modules every year since inception to date

provided two modules (of 14) for Improve International for their face to face (in UK) modular ophthalmology post-graduate certificate course, and three modules (of 14) for their on-line only post-graduate certificate course (appealing to international students) provided under auspices of the International School of Veterinary Post-graduate Studies and accredited by Harper Adams University (PgC/GPCert) since 2015

Project activity

Ocular histopathology from post-mortem and enucleated globes of bears rescued from wildlife trade in Asia

Current project grants

Primrose Charitable Trust 2026 - £28,615 - Research into ocular histopathology from post-mortem and enucleated globes of bears
rescued from wildlife trade in Asia

Past project grants

Schering-Plough – Funding for Tear film Scholarship at Cambridge Veterinary School £10,000
Schering-Plough – Funding for 3-year residency at Animal Health Trust £50,000
Kennel Club Charitable Trust – Funding of Congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca and ichthyosiform dermatosis in Cavalier King Charles spaniel dogs £4,500
MSD Animal Health – Funding for 3 year residency (Christiane Kafarnik) at Animal Health Trust £50,000
Margaret Giffon Charitable Trust – Funding of salaried position at Animal Health Trust for 3 years - £150,000
Primrose Charitable Trust – Funding salaried position at Animal Health Trust for 2 years - £100,000
Primrose Charitable Trust – funding equipment at Animal Health Trust - £50,000
Primrose Charitable Trust – funding of charitable expeditions - £26,000
BrAVO travel/research scholarships 2014 and 2016 – funding expeditions to Asia and Indonesia for wildlife work 2 x £1000
Langford Trust, Primrose Charitable Trust & Elise Pilkington Trust 2019 - £98,000 – 3 year residency programme & research into Tear Film Abnormalities and Corneal innervation in PPID in Horses (Josephine Parker)
Primrose Charitable Trust 2022 - £10,000 Funding for Residents to Attend Conferences when Presenting

Invited speaker

In the last three years

  • British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (BrAVO) March, Liverpool 2023
  • British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) March, Liverpool 2023
  • British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), Sept 2023
  • European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ECVO; on zoological and ‘exotic’ animal ophthalmology, Amsterdam, June 2024, 200-400 delegates
  • European College of Veterinary Surgery (ECVS; on orbital imaging, pathology and surgery, Valencia, Spain, July 2024, 700-1000 delegates)
  • European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN; on ophthalmological causes and investigation of acute vision loss, Porto, Portugal, Sept 2024, 300-500 delegates)
  • Nordic Equine Veterinary Conference (Iceland, March 2025, ~450 delegates)
  • UK Zoo Vet Meeting (UKZVM) 2025 Woburn, April 2025, ~60 delegates
  • British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), Sept 2025

Organiser

In the last three years

  • IEOC conference in Edinburgh, UK, June 2023
  • Two day satellite meeting Advanced Equine Ophthalmology with additional practicals, Edinburgh UK, June 2023
  • Advanced Equine Ophthalmology 2 day course with additional practicals, BEVA, July 2025

  • Donaldson D., Smith K.M., Shaw S.C., Sansom J., Hartley C. Surgical management of cicatricial ectropion following scarring dermatopathies in two dogs. . Veterinary Ophthalmology 2005;8(5):361-366. Erratum in: Veterinary Ophthalmology 2005;8(6):451.
  • Hartley C. Williams D.L., Adams V.A. Effect of age, gender, weight, and time of day on tear production in normal dogs. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2006;9(1):53-57.
  • Hartley C., McConnell J. F., Doust R. Wooden Orbital Foreign Body in a Weimeraner.
  • Veterinary Ophthalmology 2007;10(6):390-393.
  • Hartley C., Ladlow J., Smith K.C. Cutaneous haemangiosarcoma of the lower eyelid in an elderly white cat. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 2007;9(1):78-81.
  • Labruyere J.J., Hartley C., Rogers K., Wetherill G., McConnell J.F., Dennis R. Ultrasonographic evaluation of vitreous degeneration in normal dogs. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound 2008;49(2):165-171.
  • Hartley C. Aetiology of Corneal Ulcers - Assume FHV-1 Unless Proven Otherwise (Review) Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 2010 12(1):24-35.
  • Hartley C. Treatment of corneal ulcers: what are the medical options? Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. 2010 May;12(5):384-397.
  • Hartley C. Treatment of corneal ulcers: when is surgery indicated? Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. 2010 May;12(5):398-405.
  • Matas M, Wise I, Masters NJ, Stewart J, Holloway A, Donaldson D, Hartley C. Unilateral eyelid lesion and ophthalmologic findings in an aardvark (Orycteropus afer): case report and literature review. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2010 Sep;13 Suppl:116-22.
  • J Labruyere, C. Hartley, A. Holloway. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the differentiation of retinal detachment and vitreous membrane in dogs and cats.  Journal of Small Animal Practice Vol. 52: pages 52-530. Oct 2011.
  • Hartley C, Donaldson D, Smith KC, Henley W, Lewis TW, Blott S, Mellersh C, Barnett KC. Congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca and ichthyosiform dermatosis in 25 Cavalier King Charles spaniel dogs - part I: clinical signs, histopathology, and inheritance. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2012 Sept
  • Hartley C, Barnett KC, Pettitt L, Forman OP, Blott S, Mellersh CS. Congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca and ichthyosiform dermatosis in Cavalier King Charles spaniel dogs-part II: candidate gene study. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2012 Sept
  • Forman O.P., Penderis J., Hartley C., Hayward L. J., Ricketts S.L., Mellersh C.S. Parallel Mapping and Simultaneous Sequencing Reveals Deletions in BCAN and FAM83H Associated with Discrete Inherited Disorders in a Domestic Dog Breed. PloS Genetics 2012, 8(1)
  • Downs L M, Bell J S, Freeman J, Hartley C, Hayward L J, Mellersh C S Late onset progressive retinal atrophy in the Gordon and Irish Setter breeds is associated with a frameshift mutation in C2orf71. Animal Genetics. Apr 2013
  • Brooks DE, Gilger BC, Plummer CE, Hartley C, Donaldson D, Lavach D, Karpinski LG. Surgical correction of lens luxation in the horse: visual outcomes. Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences 2014 DOI 10.7243/2054-3425-2-2.
  • Hartley C. Corneal ulceration in horses 1: anatomy, healing, diagnostic approach to and classification of corneal ulceration. In Practice 2014; 36(10): 503-509.
  • Hartley C. Corneal ulceration in horses 2: aetiology and treatment. In Practice 2015; 37(1): 23-30.
  • Busse C, Hartley C, Karfanik C, Pivetta M. Ocular alkaline injury in four dogs - presentation, treatment, and follow-up - a case series. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2015; 18(2):127-134.
  • Salguero R, Johnson V, Williams DL, Hartley C, Holmes M, Dennis R, Herrtage M. CT dimensions, volumes and densities of normal canine eyes. Veterinary Record 2015; 176(15):386.
  • Blacklock BT, Grundon RA, Meehan M, Tetas Pont, Hartley C. Uveal cysts in domestic cats: a retrospective evaluation of thirty-six cases. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2016;19 (Suppl 1):56-60.
  • Tetas Pont R, Freeman C, Dennis R, Hartley C, Beltran E. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of idiopathic oculomotor neuropathy in 14 dogs. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound 2017;58 (3):334-343.
  • Hartley C. Eosinophilic keratitis in horses. In Practice. 2018; 40 (5):204-208.
  • Hartley C. Eosinophilic keratitis in horses. Veterinary Record 2018; 183 (1):24-25.
  • Maini S, Everson R, Dawson C, Chang YM, Hartley C, Sanchez RF Pigmentary keratitis in pugs in the United Kingdom: prevalence and associated features BMC Veterinary Research 2019 15(1): 384-396
  • Maini S, Hartley C A guide to ophthalmology in rabbits. In Practice. 2019 41(7):310-320.
  • Stavinohova R, Hartley C, Burmeister LM, Ricketts SL, Pettitt L, Tetas Pont R, Hitti RJ, Schofield E, Oliver JAC, Mellersh CS Clinical, histopathological and genetic characterisation of oculoskeletal dysplasia in the Northern Inuit Dog. PLOS One. 2019 14(8): e0220761.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220761
  • Hartley C In the Eye of The Beholder – Are we Properly Caring for Horses with Eye Disease? Invited Editorial. Equine Veterinary Journal 2020; 52(6):779-781.
  • Gagnon NA, Hartley C, Gilger BC Efficacy and safety of suprachoroidal triamcinolone injection in horses with poorly responsive equine recurrent uveitis. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2021 24(3):308-312.
  • Hartley C. Outcomes of treatments for keratomalacia in dogs and cats: a systematic review of the published literature including non-randomised controlled and non-controlled studies. Journal of Small Animal Practice 2021 62:840-849.
  • Ioannides J, Parker J, Kumaratunga V, Preston J, Donaldson D,  McFarlane P, Hartley C A prospective, masked, randomized, controlled superiority study comparing the incidence of corneal injury following general anaesthesia in dogs with two methods of corneal protection. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2022 DOI: 10.1111/vop.12991
  • Eaton SL, Murdoch F, Rzechorzek NM, Thompson G, Hartley C, Blacklock BT, Proudfoot C, Lillico SG, Tennant P, Adrian Ritchie A, Nixon J, Brennan PM, Guido S, Mitchell NL, Palmer DN, Whitelaw CBA, Cooper JD, Wishart TM. Modelling Neurological Diseases in Large Animals: Criteria for Model Selection and Clinical Assessment. Cells 2022, 11, 2641. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11172641
  • Parker J, Ioannides J, Kumaratunga V, Preston J, Hartley C, Donaldson D. Subpalpebral lavage placement for remote topical administration of ocular medications in 12 dogs: A retrospective review and assessment of owner perception. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2023 26(2): 108–120.
  • Chalder R, Housby-Skeggs N, Clark C, Pollard D,  Hartley C, Blacklock B. (2024) Ocular findings in a population of geriatric equids in the United Kingdom. Equine Veterinary Journal, 56(1), pp. 121–130

  • Hartley C (2024) Dealing with Periocular Tumours in Cats and Dogs, 46(8), pp. 418–431

  • Esdaile, E.,Houston, K.,Till, B.J., Hartley, C.,Bellone, R.R. (2025) A de novo FBN1 variant likely causes congenital bilateral ectopia lentis in a crossbred horse. Scientific Reports Open source preview, 15(1), 37238

  • Bando, M.K.H.,Nelson, O.L.,Taylor, K., Sellon R., Kogan C., Robinson J., Drayton E., Hartley, C; Donaldson, D., Linney C., Stephenson H. (2025) High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus) and Associated Renal Disease Animals, 15(13), 1940

  • Enache, A.E.,Maini, S.,Pivetta, M., Hartley, C.,Tetas Pont, R.(2025) Canine bilateral zygomatic sialadenitis: 20 cases (2000-2019) Journal of Small Animal Practice, 66(6), pp. 396–411

  • Hartley C., Busse C., Matas Riera M., Bacon H.J., Attur Shanmugam A., Selvaraj I., Satyanarayan K., Seshamani G., Knight A. (2025) Ocular findings in Sloth bears ((Melursus ursinus) rescued from the dancing bear trade in India Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 56(1), pp. 104–112

This article was published on