EYE PROBLEMS IN THE BREED, HEALTH ARTICLES

EYE PROBLEMS IN THE BREED

Cataract – Lens opacity that may in part or in total affect one or both eyes. Blindness results when cataracts are complete and in both eyes.
Distichiasis – Eyelashes abnormally located in the eyelid margin which may cause ocular irritation.
Ectropion – Conformational defect resulting in eversion of the eyelids, which may cause ocular irritation due to exposure.
Entropion – Conformational defect where eyelid margin inverts, or rolls inward, toward the eye causing eyelashes and hair to rub against the cornea resulting in ocular irritation.
Macroblepharon – Abnormally large eyelid opening; may lead to secondary conditions associated with corneal exposure.
Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM) – Persistent blood vessel remnants in the anterior chamber of the eye which fail to regress normally in the neonatal period.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – Degenerative disease of the retinal visual cells which leads to blindness. In Mastiffs the age at which PRA can be detected varies from as young as 6 months to as late as 42 months. Typically Mastiffs with PRA go blind gradually, first loosing their night vision and then their day vision. Many do not go completely blind until they are 8 years old or older.
Retinal Dysplasia – Abnormal development of the retina present at birth and recognized to have three forms: folds, geographic, and detachment. A Mastiff with just folds will pass CERF and the folds may disappear over time.

(CAER) EYE TESTING RECOMMENDATIONS

The Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) recommends that dogs receive a CAER eye exam annually to look for eye problems in our dogs. CAER certifications are only good for 12 months from the time of the exam.

It is the opinion of the Health Committee that all Mastiffs should have their eyes examined by a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist within the 12 months prior to being bred – this should be done every year since eye conditions can show up later in life.

You can get a list of Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologists that are qualified and approved to do CAER exams on the ACVO website: http://www.acvo.org/ophthalmologist-search. Their phone number is (208) 466-7624

OTHER EYE DISEASES AND DISORDERS

· Eyelid Disease and Surgery (Proceedings) by Dr. Mark Bobofchak, DVM, DACVO

· Ophthalmology Related Articles

· ACVO Articles for Vets and the Public

· Information About OptiGen

· CERF Diagnostic Spotlight

· CERF Diagnostic Categories

· OptiGen’s Glossary

· Eye and Retina

· Cherry Eye

· Cataract Video

· Cataracts