Eye Problems Found In Mastiffs

Eye descriptions taken from CERF publication.

Helping a Blind Dog Cope
List of CERF vets by state.
Canine Eye Registration Foundation
Veterinary Ophthalmology Information Center
Canine Eyes

Canine Eye Registration Foundation

Summary of tested mastiffs:
  YEAR    TOTAL EXAMINED    NORMAL         ONE OR MORE PROBLEMS
---------------------------------------------------------------
  1988     54               43 (80%)       11 (20%)
  1989     77               45 (58%)       32 (42%)
  1990    printout for this year unavailable from CERF
  1991     97               70 (72%)       27 (28%)
  1992    140               76 (54%)       64 (46%)
  1993     83               46 (55%)       37 (45%)
  1994    173              105 (61%)       68 (39%)
  1995    296              182 (61%)      114 (39%)
  1996    336              225 (67%)      111 (33%)
  1997	  503	           318 (63%)	  185 (37%)
  1998    587              378 (64%)      209 (36%)

Some of the eye problems that will currently disqualify a mastiff from receiving a CERF certificate are Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), detached or geographic retinal dysplasia, inherited or suspicious cataracts except punctate, Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM), entropion, lens luxation and subluxation, glaucoma, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, and optic nerve colomba. Four breeder-option conditions are seen: ectropion, macroblepharon, exposure keratopathy syndrome, and retinal dysplasia/folds. If you want to be sure that a dog has no other eye problems (i.e. retinal folds, macroblepharon, ectropion, etc.), get a copy of his CERF exam sheet from his owner.

The descriptions of eye conditions are followed by the number of mastiffs found by CERF to be affected by that problem. The number of mastiffs examined is listed in the table above. Eye conditions generally recognized to exist in the mastiff breed:

Cataract

Lens opacity which may affect one or both eyes and may involve the lens partially or completely. In cases where cataracts are complete and affect both eyes, blindness results. The prudent approach is to assume cataracts to be hereditary except in cases known to be associated with trauma, other causes of ocular inflammation, specific metabolic diseases, PPM, persistent hyaloid or nutritional deficiencies. Mastiffs with heriditary cataracts should not be bred.

     The Mastiff Reporter, Volume I, #4, 1993, page 2, Nutritional cataracts.
     AKC Gazette, 1/1994, page 36, Screening for Cataract Surgery.
     AKC Gazette, 3/1994, page 16, (nutritional cataracts)
          Bitches' Brew, When to feed milk supplements to puppies.
     Dog World, 6/1994, page 7, New surgery For canine cataracts.
     Canine News, 4/1995, page 8, Cloudy eyes vs. cataracts.

Distichiasis

Eyelashes abnormally located in the eyelid margin which may cause ocular irritation. Distichiasis may occur at any time in the life of a dog. It is difficult to make a strong recommendation with regard to breeding dogs with this. The hereditary basis has not been established although it seems probable due to the high incidence in some breeds. Reducing the incidence is a logical goal. When diagnosed, distichiasis should be recorded; breeding discretion is advised.

Ectropion

A conformational defect resulting in eversion of the eyelids, which may cause ocular irritation due to exposure. Probably polygenic like entropion.

Entropion

A conformational defect resulting in an "in-rolling" of one or more of the eyelids which may cause ocular irritation. It is likely that entropion is influenced by several genes (polygenic), defining the skin and other structures which make up the eyelids, the amount and weight of the skin covering the head and face, the orbital contents, and the conformation of the skull.

     MCOA Journal, 1994#4, page 63.

Eversion Of The Cartilage Of The Third Eyelid

A scroll-like curling of the cartilage of the third eyelid, usually everting the margin. This condition may occur in one or both eyes and may cause mild ocular irritation. The mode of inheritance is unknown.

Exposure Keratophy Syndrome

A corneal disease involving all or part of the cornea, resulting from a combination of contributing anatomical features including shallow orbits, excessive exophthalmia, macroblepharon, and lagophthalmos.

Iris Cyst

Pigmented cysts arise from the posterior pigmented epithelial cells of the iris and remain attached or break free, floating as pigmented spheres of various sizes and pigments in the anterior chamber. Some cysts tend to adhere to the posterior surface of the cornea. Rarely, cysts may be numerous enough to impair vision. The mode of inheritance is unknown.

Glaucoma

     Canine News, 6/1994, page 2, "The Emergency Of The Eyes."
     AKC Gazette, 6/1995, page 32, "Glaucoma and Gentamicin."

Macroblepharon

Abnormally large eyelid opening; may lead to secondary conditions associated with corneal exposure.

Nasolacrimal (Dry eye)

     AKC Gazette, 3/1995, page 32, "The eyes have it."
     AKC Gazette, 3/1995, page 32, "Dry eye drug could cause harm."

Persistent Corneal Erosions (PCE)

     AKC Gazette, 9/1994, page 33, "New Approach to Treating Eyes."

Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)

Persistent blood vessel remnants in the anterior chamber of the eye which fail to regress normally in the neonatal period. These strands may bridge from iris to iris, iris to cornea, iris to lens, or form sheets of tissue in the anterior chamber. The last three forms pose the greatest threat to vision and when severe, vision impairment or blindness may occur.
CERF Spotlight on PPM
Persistent Pupillary Membranes

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

A degenerative disease of the retinal visual cells which progresses to blindness. This abnormality may be detected by electroretinogram (ERG) before it is clinically apparent. In all breeds studied to date, PRA is recessively inherited. Note that a dog may be CERFed clear when it is younger before the PRA has become detectable. Mastiffs with PRA or that are known carriers of PRA (i.e. have produced offspring with PRA or whose parent or parents have PRA) should not be bred.

     PRA in Mastiffs
     Progressive Retinal Atrophy
     Mastiff PRA
     AKC Gazette, 12/1994, page 34, "Blood test for PRA in irish setters."
     Cornell Animal Health Newsletter, 4/1995, page 1,
           "First DNA test for a canine eye disease."

Prolapse Of The Gland Of The Third Eyelid

Protrusion of the tear gland associated with the third eyelid. The mode of inheritance of this disorder is unknown. The exposed gland may become irritated. Commonly referred to as "cherry eye."

     Dog World, 3/1994, page 74, "'Cherry eye in dogs may be genetic,"
                by Kimberly Meenen.

Retinal Dysplasia

folds: 1988 - 3, 1989 - 9, 1991 - 5, 1992 - 11, 1993 - 7, 1994 - 24, 1995 - 31

geographic: 1992 - 1, 1994 - 2, 1995 - 3

Abnormal development of the retina present at birth and recognized to have three forms:

1. folds: linear, triangular, curved, or curvilinear foci of retinal folding that may be single or multiple.
2. geographic: any irregular shaped area of abnormal retinal development, representing changes not accountable by simple folding.
3. detachment: either of the above described forms of retinal dysplasia associated with separation (detachment) of the retina.

     The Mastiff Reporter, Volume I, #2.

References
     CERF Spotlight on Retinal Dysplasia
     The Mastiff Reporter, "Eye On CERF" column in 1993, CERF statistics.
     Canine New, 6/1994, page 1, "The Structures Of The Eye and How They
         Function."
     Cornell Animal Health Newsletter, 11&12/1994,
         "Known and suspected inherited eye diseases in dogs."
     Dog World, 5/1995, page 24, "Seeing with the heart."
     Cornell Animal Health Newsletter, 2/1995, page 1,
         "Dogs at risk for a common eye diease - keratitis."
     The Mastiff Reporter, 3/1995, page 8, "Eye On CERF."