In 2021, Veterinary Ophthalmic Referrals is celebrating its 25th year of business, an astonishing achievement for Dr Tony Read and his VOR team, past and present.
And we are also celebrating 10 years at our dedicated ophthalmology-only premises.

Initially in 1996 VOR rented space at an after-hours clinic, before becoming a founding referral service in Adelaide’s first Veterinary Specialist Centre. Then, 10 years ago, VOR moved to stand-alone specialist premises.

Over the years more than 30,000 eye cases have been seen by VOR ranging from family pets, competition horses and service dogs, to zoo animals and wildlife rescues.
Veterinary Ophthalmic Referrals remains Adelaide’s only dedicated animal eye clinic with Adelaide’s only Registered Specialists in Veterinary Ophthalmology.

Read about our clinic history below-

1992
Dr Tony Read commences specialist training in Veterinary Ophthalmology at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, England. His mentor is Dr Keith Barnett, pictured centre below.

1995
After gaining his British veterinary ophthalmology specialist qualification, Dr Read is approached to temporarily run a private veterinary ophthalmology referral service in Wimbledon, London. The following year he plans to return to Australia to establish his own referral practice.

1996
Veterinary Ophthalmic Referrals (VOR) is established in Adelaide by Dr Read, newly Australian Registered Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology. Dr Read has British, Australian and European Specialist qualifications in Veterinary Ophthalmology. VOR commences operations in rented space at what is now the Adelaide Animal Emergency and Referral Centre on Anzac Highway.

2000
Dr Read establishes and builds the Adelaide Veterinary Specialist and Referral Centre (AVSARC) in Norwood, in partnership with Dr Ian Douglas, and operates Veterinary Ophthalmic Referrals from this centre with other specialist services. AVSARC is the first purpose built veterinary referral centre in Australia. He remains a co-owner of AVSARC until 2008.

2008
Dr Read commences a regular visiting service to North Queensland, working out of host practices in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton.

2011
Dr Read moves VOR from AVSARC to new dedicated premises on Anzac Highway. The newly renovated ophthalmology-only facilities allow VOR services to reach new heights.

2014
Dr Kellam Bayley, based in Wellington, NZ joins VOR as Dr Read’s first resident. He commences a visiting part-time European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ECVO) residency training program in Veterinary Ophthalmology under the mentorship of Dr Read, training for the specialist qualification: Diplomate of the ECVO.

2019
Dr Bayley passes all ECVO Board examinations and achieves specialist status. He is the first veterinarian to complete an Australasian based ECVO residency.
Dr Zoe Anastassiadis joins VOR as Dr Read’s second resident, commencing dual ECVO and ANZCVS (Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists) residency training programs, training for the specialist qualifications: Diplomate of the ECVO and Fellow of the ANZCVS.