Six Expert Hands, Three Brilliant Minds, and One Focus: Your Pet's Vision
Michael Paulsen, DVM, MS, DACVO
Dr. Michael Paulsen is the visionary founder of Animal Eye Clinic and a leading figure in veterinary ophthalmology. With over four decades of dedicated service, his pioneering research and commitment to education have fundamentally shaped the landscape of animal vision care.
Dr. Paulsen earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Texas A&M University in 1977, where he was awarded the prestigious Thomas S. Gathwright Award for Academic Excellence. Following graduation, he was commissioned into the United States Army, dedicating seven years of active duty to the Army Veterinary Corps. He continued his military service in the Army Reserves, ultimately retiring at the rank of Colonel in 2007.
From 1984 to 1987, Dr. Paulsen pursued advanced training at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, completing a specialized residency in ophthalmology and earning a Master of Science in Clinical Sciences. In 1987, he achieved board certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO). Throughout his career, Dr. Paulsen has authored numerous groundbreaking papers that have advanced the practice of veterinary ophthalmology while successfully establishing a prestigious, top-tier residency program to mentor future specialists.
In 1987, Dr. Paulsen brought dedicated ocular care to North Texas by founding the Animal Eye Clinic Arlington. After briefly joining the Eye Clinic for Animals in Garden Grove, California, he returned to the DFW Metroplex to reopen his practice. For more than a decade, Dr. Paulsen expanded his reach to serve patients across both Texas and Hawaii. In 2004, he retired from Hawaii Animal Eye Consultants to focus his full attention on the DFW Metroplex, officially pioneering the opening of the current Animal Eye Clinic’s Fort Worth location in 2016.
Dr. Paulsen is happily married and has two children. When he isn't at the clinic restoring vision for his patients, he can usually be found on the golf course pursuing his lifelong passion for the game. True to his love for animals, his home is also bustling with a beloved Shih Tzu mix, three cats, and two Cavalier King Charles
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Sánchez brings a unique blend of brilliant clinical intellect, deep compassion, and masterful technical skill to the Animal Eye Clinic team. He views surgery as a true craft, bringing an artistic level of care and precision to every procedure in the operating room.
Gabriel Sánchez, DVM, DACVO
Dr. Sánchez attended the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus, where he balanced rigorous academics with athletics as an NCAA Division II volleyball player. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences in 2017. He then went on to graduate with the highest honors from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, completing his clinical year at Colorado State University in 2021.
Following veterinary school, Dr. Sánchez completed a rigorous one-year small animal rotating internship at one of the busiest private emergency hospitals in Tucson, Arizona, gaining invaluable insight into complex small animal medicine and surgery.
Driven to specialize, he remained in Tucson to pursue a dedicated ophthalmology clerkship under the supervision of a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. During this time, he gained extensive experience performing ocular ultrasounds, electroretinography (ERG), and complex exams. His training spanned not only companion animals but also exotic species, including horses, raptors, and various wildlife at the Reid Park Zoo.
Most recently, Dr. Sánchez completed his intensive three-year ophthalmology residency right here at Animal Eye Clinic, officially becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO) in 2026. Known by colleagues and clients alike for his exceptionally warm personality, he pairs a gentle, empathetic touch with advanced specialized workflows to ensure the best possible outcomes for his patients.
In his free time, Dr. Sánchez remains highly active. He still enjoys playing competitive volleyball, swimming, hiking, and watching a wide variety of sports.
Levi Brock, DVM, Residency Trained
Raised in the rural farming community of Morgantown, Indiana, Dr. Levi Brock brings a dynamic, innovative approach and wonderfully vibrant, playful energy to the Animal Eye Clinic team. Known for his cheerful personality and fresh perspective, he is deeply loved by his clients and coworkers alike for his openness to cutting-edge techniques and his dedication to patient care.
Dr. Brock attended Indiana University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts. While at IU, he excelled at the highest levels of collegiate athletics as a competitive swimmer. His dedication earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the Academic All-Big Ten, Scholar All-American Team Athlete, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Tichenor Awards. A fierce competitor, Dr. Brock was a finalist at the NCAA Division I Championships in 2018, competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials, swam in the US Open from 2016 to 2018, and raced in the Big Ten Conference Championships from 2015 to 2018.
Following his undergraduate success, Dr. Brock earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Purdue University in 2022, once again graduating Summa Cum Laude. He then completed a rigorous small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at Iowa State University in 2023, refining his foundational clinical skills.
Deepening his specialization, Dr. Brock moved to Texas to undergo advanced training, successfully completing his veterinary ophthalmology residency right here at Animal Eye Clinic in 2026.
In addition to his passions for ophthalmology and swimming, Dr. Brock has a lifelong love for horses. Having grown up around them, he spent years participating in 4-H events, local dressage competitions, and showing Quarter Horses in both Western and English riding events.
When he isn’t at the clinic or in the pool, Dr. Brock stays active and creative by reading, biking, traveling, and competing in sprint triathlons.