Collie Eye Anomaly

Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is a hereditary disease that occurs mainly in collies and related breeds. It affects the back of the eye, primarily the choroid and retina, and usually appears in both eyes at the same time. It can be mild, with the dog having no visible vision problems, but it can also be more severe, with damage to the optic nerve, colobomas (defects in the eye tissue), or even retinal detachment, which can lead to significant vision impairment or even loss of vision. The disease is congenital and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that the dog is either born with it or is a carrier. The carrier itself has no symptoms, but can pass them on to its offspring. It can be reliably detected by a genetic test, which should be done before a dog or bitch is included in breeding. In addition, it is recommended that puppies undergo an eye examination by a specialist.