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CEA |
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| CEA is a
disorder of the deep structures of the eye that affects
collie breeds around the world. The four main changes are:
inadequate development of the choroid, a thin layer of blood vessels that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the retina (called hypoplasia of the choroid or chorioretinal dysplasia); coloboma - a cleft or defect of the optic disc or adjacent areas; staphyloma - an area of thinning in the sclera which is adjacent to the choroid; and retinal detachment with or without haemorrhage - a complication associated with the other defects. In its mildest form, there are minor changes in the choroid which will have little effect on sight. About 25 per cent of dogs with CEA have colobomas/staphylomas as well as choroidal hypoplasia. Retinal detachments occur in approximately seven per cent of dogs with CEA. Total retinal detachment will cause blindness. How is collie eye anomaly inherited? Inheritance is autosomal recessive with variable expression and pleomorphism (meaning that there is a wide range in clinical expression of the defect). What breeds are affected by collie eye anomaly? The disorder occurs commonly in collie breeds, including the border collie, rough collie, smooth collie, and Shetland sheepdog. The best way to avoid this problem is to purchase a pup from parents that have been registered with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF), and have never produced affected pups. A similar condition has been seen, although very rarely, in the borzoi, Australian shepherd, beagle, dachsund, German shepherd, and miniature and toy poodle. For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed. What does collie eye anomaly mean to your dog & you? Many dogs will have apparently normal vision unless retinal detachment with or without haemorrhage occurs, causing blindness in the affected eye. Retinal detachments are often one-sided and generally occur before 2 years of age. How is collie eye anomaly diagnosed? Your veterinarian will be able to see the abnormalities in the back of the eye with an ophthalmoscope. FOR THE VETERINARIAN: choroidal hypoplasia - appears as an area lateral (temporal) to the optic disc with reduction or absence of pigment so that the underlying choroidal vasculature is seen; the choroidal vessels may be reduced in number and of abnormal shape; may see underlying white sclera. Once the retina changes to its adult colour (about 3 months of ages), the normal pigment in the retina may mask the changes in the choroid (so-called "go normal") coloboma - appears as an excavation of the optic disc surface and sometimes adjacent ocular fundus retinal complications - detachment with or without haemorrhage How is collie eye anomaly treated? There is no treatment. Minor lesions may not be detectable by ophthalmoscope after 3 months of age, so collies intended for breeding programmes should be examined early at 5-6 weeks of age. Even dogs with minor lesions (mild choroidal hypoplasia) should not be bred because their offspring may be affected with more serious forms of the disorder. Because of the potential for serious eye disease with this trait, neither affected dogs, their parents, or their offspring should be used for breeding. Siblings of affected dogs should not be used either, unless eye exams before 3 months of age demonstrate that they are unaffected.
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