Juvenile Cataracts (JC) - Called "juvenile cataracts" to differentiate them from
the "old age" type cataract or from the degenerative type that results from
injury, inoculation reactions or systemic disease. The eye with the
cataract(s) has a cloudiness of the lens of the eye in a relatively young dog. The
purpose of the lens is to focus the rays of light so that they may forma an image on the
retina. If the lens becomes cloudy then less light can enter the eye and the sight
will slowly diminish as the cataract becomes larger. This type of cataract will show up
at an early age and in most cases is inherited. One or both eyes may be affected and
the cataracts may not appear in both eyes at the same time. At this time there is no
proof that eye color has any bearing on the likelihood of developing juvenile cataracts.
Many dogs with juvenile cataracts can lead normal lives well into their older
senior years before the cataracts impair their vision dramatically.
Unfortunately, in
some instances the cataracts are severe enough to cause blindness at a young age.
Corneal Dystrophy (CD) -
This eye disorder affects the cornea and causes a gray haze and/or needle-like crystals to
form in the cornea, eventually spreading across the surface of the eye and sometimes
totally obscuring the vision of the dog. As with JC, both eyes may not become
affected at the same time and the disorder does not discriminate with regard to age.
Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (PRA)- The retina has two types of cells, the rods which are used for sight in
darkness and semi-darkness and the cones which are used in bright light such as daylight.
PRA affects the retina and there are two types of PRA, primary retinal dystrophy
and central progressive atrophy. Both forms of PRA can occur at any age.
The most common type of
PRA is primary retinal dystrophy in which dogs first lose their night vision as the rod
cells atrophy, followed by their loss of day vision as the cone cells deteriorate.
This particular type of PRA is progressive and will eventually result in total blindness.
With central progressive
atrophy the dog has better dim light vision than bright light vision because it causes a
blind patch in the central field of vision. With this type of PRA the dog may bump
into large unmoving items such as furniture but they can see moving objects very well.
This form of PRA is also progressive and while total blindness may not occur, the
severity of the disease may cause problems for the dog and family and will be the cause of
many adjustments as the dog grows older.
There is no known
"cure" for the eye disorders described once the dog becomes afflicted.
Medical intervention may help with some forms of eye disorders but not all.
Responsible breeders will
have all their breeding stock examined by a Certified Canine Ophthalmologist
on a
yearly basis and any dog who is shown to be afflicted will be removed from their breeding
program. Breeders are willing to show you proof of a recent eye examination and/or
CERF or SHOR registration.
More information on
Canine Eye Disorders can be found by going to our links page and clicking on either CERF
or SHOR.
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