Inherited Eye Diseases in Collies

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is a disorder caused by incomplete development of the eye. The disorder is found in rough and smooth collies of all colors worldwide, as well as other similar breeds including Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Australian Shepherds. This defect can manifest through underdevelopment of the choroid, a defect of the optic nerve or adjacent areas, an area of thinning in the sclera, and retinal detachment. While the severity ranges from no apparent visual defect to total blindness, most Collies with CEA do not demonstrate vision problems.

CEA is an autosomal recessive defect, which means that an animal must inherit one copy of the abnormal gene from each parent to be affected. Carriers cannot be distinguished from normal dogs based on an ophthalmic examination alone, and should be genetically tested before they are bred.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is another inherited condition where the retinal cells gradually degenerate, leading to progressive vision loss and eventually blindness.

While there is no cure for inherited eye diseases such as CEA or PRA, regular ophthalmic examinations can help monitor the progression of the disease. Genetic testing is recommended before breeding to identify carriers and prevent passing the abnormal genes to offspring. For dogs with retinal detachments or other complications, surgical intervention may be recommended.