After enjoying a slew of 4 a.m. texts from the East Coast and once again advancing my “Vegas Plan of Attack” (VPOA) by over an hour, I enjoyed a leisurely walk to another sunrise session. I think someone needs to tell the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) planning committee that these sessions don’t have to be exactly at sunrise….  

In this particular session, Ann Dwyer, DVM, AAEP past president from the Genesee Valley Equine Clinic in Scottsville, New York, described the intricacies of the equine eye. This eye-opening anatomical refresher course (see what I did there?) helped the 200 attendees recall several important anatomical tidbits. For example, Dwyer reminded us of the convoluted nature of the ciliary body (a muscular ring located in the front part of the eye) and the fact that they eye is a “privileged” environment with a blood-eye barrier. This means that the proteins and antigens inside the eye are foreign to the immune system, and essentially perceived as non-self.

Despite the importance of the discussion on anatomy, ocular immunology, and the importance of leptospirosis in recurrent equine uveitis, I must admit that three hours sleep does not this member of media keep … which might explain the following letter I subsequently composed:

Dear Dr

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