Polar Eyes Veterinary Ophthalmology

04/25/2025

04/23/2025

Dr. Snyder will be seeing ophthalmology appointments at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Wednesday April 30th, 2025. There are limited spots available. Appointments are available to anyone. Call 907-262-4581 to schedule an ophthalmology exam and save yourself the round-trip drive to Anchorage!

Providing Alaska’s animals specialty eye care from a local board certified veterinary ophthalmologist

04/22/2025

Why do we do what we do? For dogs like Cosmo. This is why I come to work. As an ophthalmologist, we form long-term friendships with owners and their dogs. Recheck after recheck we see owners multiple times per month for long stretches, fighting to give their animal the best treatment outcome. We learn not just about the dogs but about the people. Their health struggles, their life stories, their jobs and hobbies, and how their animals fit into that story. As a veterinarian, we treat the animal but by treating the animal we bring comfort and emotional stability to their people. I first met a blind Cosmo earlier this year and today was the last time I'll see Cosmo, and Cosmo will see me, as his owners move to the lower 48. This was his final recheck with me months post cataract surgery. His owners have fought through their own life challenges but they stayed positive and genuine through it all. Giving much of their energy to Cosmo while Cosmo can now give energy back to them. Safe travels down the Alcan to your new place Cosmo. Bark at anyone and everyone you can see.

04/16/2025

We had one of the tallest canine visitors you will find in Alaska…a beautiful Irish Wolfhound! We don’t see many of these dignified dogs!! 🤩 Notice the dog is sitting but her head is well above the counter!

04/12/2025

Wrapping up a trip to Fairbanks today we were busy! Appointment days at Mount McKinkey Animal Hospital and North Pole Veterinary Hospital…we also lectured to the Alaska Dog Mushers Association (ADMA), a separate lecture and lab to the students at the University of Fairbanks (this is our 4th year of this lab!), and held a low-cost sled dog eye clinic for ADMA. Great to see everyone!!

04/09/2025

We love seeing our patients transition back to happy dogs. This dog was blind due to cataracts and one week after surgery she is looking amazing. 🤩

03/28/2025

Frenchie fever! We love our Frenchie patients big and small…this little pup came along as a visitor today!

03/18/2025

We've been receiving many questions about what to do in the event our neighborhood volcano, Mt. Spurr, erupts and ashfall impacts our area. We put together a flyer with guidance to help keep your animal's eyes as healthy as possible.

03/16/2025

Congratulations Matt and Elke Hall / Team Silver Ace Sled Dog Kennel on another amazing Iditarod. We are so happy to be a sponsor for your team.

You’re 2025 top 3! Congratulations Jessie, Paige, and our own Matt Hall!
Thank you to all who came to the musher meet and great today in Nome Alaska! So wonderful to see so many of the younger generation getting interested in the old ways of dog driving!
Rod's Alaskan Guide Service
UltraCruz
Polar Eyes Veterinary Ophthalmology
Ian Halstead
Alaska Icefield Expeditions, Inc.
pipe&leaf
And all of the incredible people who have visited our website, silveracekennel.com, to sponsor dogs, checkpoints and dog food!

03/14/2025

What a beautiful view today for our exam! 🤩🏔️🐴

02/21/2025

A sampling of some of our visitors these past weeks!! We love our patients!! Thank you for trusting us!!

12/20/2024

It’s cookie time (thanks to … you wouldn’t want us baking your holiday cookies)!!!!
Polar Eyes Veterinary Ophthalmology will be stopping by to wish all of our Alaska veterinary professionals happy holidays. Alaska’s animal care providers deserve a treat too! We look forward to continued partnership in the coming year, providing our pets with the best eye care outcomes.

12/12/2024

We see lots of small animals but we take care of all of them (except humans! 😂)…here is Dr Snyder this week helping a horse with an eyelid mass at a farm outside Fairbanks. We try to help them all!!

10/21/2024

We will be out of office to attend the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Annual Conference this week from Oct 21st-27th. For eye emergencies, please contact your primary veterinarian. We will respond to consults as timely as possible. We will see all of our Alaska patients when we are back, Monday, October 28th 2024!

10/14/2024

This week is National Veterinary Technician Week, when we recognize the incredible versatility and outstanding work that veterinary technicians do to keep your pet healthy and happy! We are so grateful for all of the veterinary technicians we are fortunate to work with across the state. We would like to highlight our full-time licensed veterinary technician, Chrishawna! If you have seen us you have met her. She can do it all, from scheduling, owner communication, blood-draws, anesthesia, surgery prep, prescriptions....we are so lucky to have her!!! Thank you to the hard-working skilled vet techs everywhere for keeping the veterinary clinics running!!!

10/03/2024

A wheelbarrow of puppies to brighten your day! 🐶🤩