What is Collie eye?
A. Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is an inherited disease characterized by abnormal development of the eye. Mild cases are characterized by lack of development of the choroid, which is the vascular layer of the back of the eye (choroidal hypoplasia) , and vascular tortuosity. Recessive genes in the gene pool of popular dog breeds, can become embedded very quickly. In Collies, the recessive gene for Collie Eye Anomaly is now so established in the breed in the US that most examining opthalmologists agree the number of AFFECTED (carrying two genes!) animals is around 85%. Of the 15% that are “normal” (a dominant gene), many of these are carriers. Through screening and responsible breeding, there has been some success in decreasing the severity of the problem. This condition can be detected by examination of the retina of the eye as early as 5 to 8 weeks of age. Combs Collies pups are guaranteed to be checked before selling them, by a veterinarian specialized in ophthalmology.
