It has already
been done in India.
The International Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology ran a structured residency training programme across India starting in 2022. The first certified cohort completed in May 2025. This is what a working model looks like.
The international body setting the standard in veterinary ophthalmology
The International Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology (IBVO) is the accreditation body that sets and maintains the residency training standard for veterinary ophthalmology internationally. It operates alongside established boards — ACVO in North America, ECVO in Europe — extending that same standard to institutions and clinics globally.
IBVO accreditation requires institutions to meet rigorous infrastructure, faculty, and case volume standards. The credential it awards is internationally recognised.
Our goal is to build a community of well-trained veterinary ophthalmologists who can make a real difference in animal healthcare.
- International residency accreditation body for veterinary ophthalmology
- Operates globally alongside ACVO (North America) and ECVO (Europe)
- Sets minimum infrastructure, faculty, and case standards
- Five-year accreditation cycle with on-site assessment
- Curriculum delivered via the IBVO Canvas Learning Management System
The Eye Vet clinics.
India. Since 2022.
IBVO piloted its structured Residency Training Programme at The Eye Vet (TEV) clinics across India — a network of specialist veterinary ophthalmology centres. The programme ran from 2022 with the first cohort of residents completing and achieving certification in May 2025.
Programme start
Pilot launched across TEV clinics in India
2025
First cohort certified
First residents completed and received IBVO certification
Full-time residency
Structured three-year programme to board certification
In India
First internationally accredited vet ophthalmology residency in the country
Launch Summit · Mumbai · May 2025
IBVO hosted its India Launch Summit at JW Marriott Juhu, Mumbai in May 2025 — marking the formal recognition of the India pilot and the first certified cohort. "A Historic Moment for Veterinary Specialization in India."
Six pillars.
One structured residency.
The IBVO residency model is built around six components — each addressing a distinct dimension of clinical training. This is the structure the VIPER Tier 2 teaching mandate is modelled on.
Didactic Education
Residents undergo a structured curriculum covering foundational and advanced topics. Delivered through IBVO's Canvas LMS — lectures, online sessions, and interactive Q&A with international experts. Asynchronous and synchronous, with structured assessment.
Clinical Rotations
Residents rotate through accredited clinics, building exposure to a genuine breadth of cases across species and complexity. Rotation sites meet IBVO infrastructure and case volume standards before residents are placed.
Surgical Training
A phased approach — cadaver and wet-lab practice first, then assisted surgeries, then graduated independent procedures under supervision. Residents must meet defined case minimums before advancing to unsupervised operating.
Case Rounds
Daily case rounds with deep-dive discussions on complex presentations. Residents present active cases, explore advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches, and receive expert interrogation from supervising diplomates.
Journal Club
Regular sessions in which residents critically appraise current literature — research papers, case studies, and emerging trends. The goal is not academic exercise but directly connecting evidence to how trainees manage the next case they see.
Mentorship
Each resident receives continuous in-person and virtual mentorship from IBVO diplomates and international faculty throughout the programme. Not a scheduled session — an ongoing relationship that provides feedback, guidance, and expert support at every stage.
What IBVO requires
of accredited institutions
IBVO accreditation is not a light-touch endorsement. Institutions must demonstrate clinical capacity, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and case volume before residents are placed — and maintain those standards through a five-year renewal cycle.
| Faculty minimum | At least 2 ACVO / ECVO / IBVO board-certified supervising diplomates |
| Resident ratio | Capped at one more than the number of supervising diplomates |
| Canine case minimum | 1,500 canine cases |
| Feline case minimum | 150 feline cases |
| Equine case minimum | 50 equine cases |
| Other species | 35+ cases across additional species |
| Surgical minimums | 25 lens extractions · 15 anterior segment · 15 adnexal · orbit / nasolacrimal / glaucoma cases |
| Infrastructure | Operating microscopes with video recording, slit lamps, phacoemulsification units, ERG recording equipment |
The model exists.
The question is scale.
The IBVO India pilot at The Eye Vet demonstrates that internationally accredited residency training is achievable in India — with the right faculty, the right infrastructure, and the right programme design. VIPER is the team assembling those conditions across seven clinical disciplines, not just one. The framework is proven. What it needs now is the people to run it.