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Eye Disorders

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO)
British Veterinary Association Eye Panelists

Veterinary Resources

Imperforate and micro-lachrymal puncta in the dog. K. C. Barnett. J. Sm. Anim. Pract. August 1979;20(8):481-490. Quote: Lachrymation, the excessive secretion of tears, and epiphora, the inadequate drainage of tears, are common presenting clinical signs. It has long been supposed that the majority of cases of epiphora occur because part, or parts, of the naso-lachrymal duct system is congenitally absent or blocked and, if the former, that treatment is not possible. Imperforate and micro-lachrymal puncta are reported in detail in the dog. The main breeds affected are the Golden Retriever and Cocker Spaniel. Diagnosis and surgical treatment are discussed. The condition is considered to be more common than is realized. ... Cases in this series occured in the yellow Labrador (three), Samoyed (two) and single cases in the American Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, ... Case 26: Cavalier King Charles -- tri --- M -- 6 mos -- microphthalmos of upper and lower right lids.

Posterior lenticonus, cataracts and microphthalmia: congenital ocular defects in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Narfström K, Dubielzig R. J. Sm. Anim. Pract. 1984; 25: 669–677. Quote: Eleven cases of congenital ocular defects were found in the screening of 144 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in Sweden. Mainly posterior lenticonus, cataracts and microphthalmia were observed in the affected dogs, most of which were interrelated. Pathology was obtained from one of the cases demonstrating bilateral posterior lens capsule rupture with an unusual cellular reaction of the exposed lens material. ... The lenticular abnormalities found in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed of dog mainly affect the nucleus, posterior cortex and the posterior capsule. These defects, together with an intact posterior lens capsule, indicate an early developmental insult in the formation of the foetal lens. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain posterior lenticonus formation. Most of the histologic evidence supports a congenital defect involving an abnormal embryonic remnant in the epithelial cell proliferation before the lens capsule forms or a hyperplasia of the lens accompanied by a thinning of the capsule over the defect. In the Cavalier dog the latter explanation seems to be the most likely. Persistence of hyaloid vessels or remnants of these is further evidence of an early developmental aberration. Microphthalmia is a common finding in conjunction with other severe ocular malformations which were also found in the present study.

Hereditary cataract in the Miniature Schnauzer. K. C. Barnett. J.Small Animal Prac.; Nov. 1985;26(11):635-644. Quote: "Posterior lenticonus, cataract and microphthalmos, as reported here and in the USA (Gelatt et al., 1983b) has also been reported in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Sweden (Narfstrom & Dubielzig, 1984)."

Control of Canine Genetic Diseases. Padgett, G.A., Howell Book House 1998, pp. 198-199, 241.

Ocular Disorders Presumed to be Inherited in Purebred Dogs. Genetics Committee, A.C.V.O. 1999.

Guide to Congenital and Heritable Disorders in Dogs. Dodds WJ, Hall S, Inks K, A.V.A.R., Jan 2004, Section II(199).

Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs & Cats. Alex Gough, Alison Thomas. 2004; Blackwell Publ. 44-45.

Ophthalmic Disease in Veterinary Medicine. Martin C.L. Manson Publ. 2005.

Canine Inherited Disorders Database: http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/disorder/microphthalmia-ocular-dysgenesis

Ophthalmic Disease in Veterinary Medicine. Charles L. Martin. Manson Publ. 2009; page 475, table 15.1. Quote: "Presumed Inherited Ocular Diseases: Table 15.1: Breed predisposition to eye disease in dogs: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: ... Microphthalmia with multiple ocular anomalies".

Ocular conditions affecting the brachycephalic breeds. Peter G.C. Bedford. 2010. RVC. Quote: "There are two types of disease which affect the eye of the brachycephalic breeds and both are directly or indirectly related to genetic predisposition. First and by far the commonest are those conditions which are due to be conformation of skull and are related to the exophthalmos which is the common feature of these breeds. Second there are those conditions which have been unwittingly bred into some brachycephalic breeds in the pursuit of desired breed characteristics. In this lecture I will present an overview of all the diseases that the small animal practitioner is likely to encounter in the brachycephalic breeds of pedigree dog. The fourteen breeds I have included for discussion are the Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles and the King Charles Spaniels, (mesaticephalic) French Bulldog, Griffon Bruxellois, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pug, Shih Tzu and Tibetan Spaniel. ... Corneal Lipid Dystrophy: The term applies to the characteristic cholesterol and triglyceride deposits in the superficial corneal stroma seen most commonly in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It is clinically benign and seldom affects vision to any noticeable degree. ... Hereditary Cataract: Hereditary cataract is seen in the Boston Terrier and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. ... Microphthalmos (MoD): Again the American literature suggests that microphthalmos (MoD) may be inherited in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel."

Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, Second Edition. Lowell Ackerman. July 2011; AAHA Press; pg 169. Quote: "In the ... Cavalier King Charles spaniel ... microphthalmia is associated with multiple ocular anomalies."

Ocular Disorders Presumed to be inherited in purebred dogs. Genetics Committee of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Blue Book 6th Ed. 2013. pp. 241-247. Quote: "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Disorder: A. Microphthalmia with multiple ocular defects. Inheritance: Not defined."

Hereditary Ocular Disease in the dog. Peter G C Bedford. EJCAP Online, Genetic/Hereditary Disease and Breeding. Autumn 2013;233(3):23-41. Quote: "Congenital inherited disease: ... Congenital Cataract: Cataract is defined as any opacity of the lens and/or its capsule. Congenital inherited cataract always involves the central embryonic and foetal nuclear portion of the lens, whilst those lens fibres which make up the cortex usually remain transparent. Thus congenital nuclear cataract is often described as stationary, with the effect on the dog’s sight being dictated by the extent of the opacity. Such patients may be managed long term by using long acting mydriatic drugs, but when cortical involvement occurs lens removal may prove necessary. The condition occurs as a recessive trait in the Miniature Schnauzer and it may become established as an inherited entity in the Old English Sheepdog, the Golden Retriever and the West Highland White Terrier unless breeders respond adequately to early findings in these breeds. Congenital nuclear cataract may also accompany microphthalmos, PPM and retinal dysplasia in breeds like the Bloodhound, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Cocker Spaniel, the Dobermann, the Golden Retriever, the Old English Sheepdog, the Rottweiler, the Rough Collie, the Standard Poodle and the West Highland White Terrier as part of a multi-ocular defect (MOD).

Familial retinal dysplasia and microphthalmia with lens abnormalities in the cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS). L Mertel, MG Baldini, E Moretti, SP Marelli, A Picchi, M Polli. Vet. Opthalmology. September 2015;18(5):E5. Quote: "Purpose: To report congenital hereditary eye disorders including microphthalmia with cataract, posterior lenticonus and retinal dysplasia in a family of CKCS. The clinical findings of bilateral multifocal retinal dysplasia in a dam led to the ocular examination of the stud and the litter. Multiple congenital ocular anomalies of this family are described. Methods: All dogs were examined following the ECVO eye scheme and the horizontal corneal diameter was measured (mm) in the awake animals using a caliper. Results: The dam (34 months, ruby) was affected by multiple distichia and bilateral peripheral tapetal multifocal retinal dysplasia. The sire (27 months, black and tan) had unilateral iris to iris persistent pupillary membranes. Pup #1 (female, 2 months, ruby) had bilateral multifocal and geographical retinal dysplasia characterized by a horseshoe-shaped area in the right dorsolateral tapetal periphery and a circular dysplastic lesion in the left dorsomedial tapetal periphery. Pup #2 (male, 2 months, black and tan) showed bilateral micro-phthalmia (11 mm OU) with nuclear, cortical and posterior capsular cataract and right posterior lenticonus. Pup #3 (male, 2 months, black and tan) had bilateral iris to iris persistent pupillary membranes and unilateral right multifocal and geo-graphical horseshoe-shaped retinal dysplasia. Conclusion: Microphthalmia with lens dysmorpho-genesis and normal looking fundi seems to be a feature in the CKCS. Littermates may be affected with varies forms of retinal dysplasia, as in the Akita and the Chow Chow."

Ocular biometry by computed tomography in different dog breeds. Carolin L. H. Chiwitt, Stephen J. Baines, Paul Mahoney, Andrew Tanner, Christine L. Heinrich, Michael Rhodes, Heidi J. Featherstone. Vet. Ophth. November 2016. Quote: Objective: To (i) correlate B-mode ocular ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) (prospective pilot study), (ii) establish a reliable method to measure the normal canine eye using CT, (iii) establish a reference guide for some dog breeds, (iv) compare eye size between different breeds and breed groups, and (v) investigate the correlation between eye dimensions and body weight, gender, and skull type (retrospective study). Procedure: B-mode US and CT were performed on ten sheep cadaveric eyes. CT biometry involved 100 adult pure-bred dogs with nonocular and nonorbital disease, representing eleven breeds [including ten cavalier King Charles spaniels]. Eye length, width, and height were each measured in two of three planes (horizontal, sagittal, and equatorial). Results: B-mode US and CT measurements of sheep cadaveric eyes correlated well (0.70–0.71). The shape of the canine eye was found to be akin to an oblate spheroid (a flattened sphere). A reference guide was established for eleven breeds. Eyes of large breed dogs (GSD, Labrador Retriever, Boxer) were significantly larger than those of medium ((Border Collie, SBT, Cocker Spaniel, ESS) and small breed dogs (CKCS, Border Terrier, JRT, WHWT) (P < 0.01), and eyes of medium breed dogs were significantly larger than those of small breed dogs (P < 0.01). ... There was no significant difference between the CKCS eye (a small breed) and the medium breed group. ... Eye size correlated with body weight (0.74–0.82) but not gender or skull type. Conclusions: Computed tomography is a suitable method for biometry of the canine eye, and a reference guide was established for eleven breeds. Eye size correlated with breed size and body weight. ... The CKCS had a relatively large eye for the small breed group. ... Because correlation between B-mode US and CT was shown, the obtained values can be applied in the clinical setting, for example, for the diagnosis of microphthalmos and buphthalmos.

Microphthalmia with Retinal-Choroidal Colobomas (Orbital Cysts) in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Becky Mosley, Clare Rusbridge. Unpublished case study. September 2024. Quote: What is it? Microphthalmia with retinal-choroidal colobomas is a congenital eye condition characterized by an underdeveloped eye (microphthalmia) and defects (hole) in the retina and choroid. The “hole” occurs due to incomplete closure of the embryonic fissure during fetal development. This condition often leads to the formation of orbital cysts, which can extend into surrounding structures like the retrobulbar space or even into the nasopharynx. In the case described, the cysts were observed to slowly expand and cause bone deformation, but they did not show expansion into the cranium​ How is it Diagnosed? Diagnosis typically involves clinical examination and advanced imaging, such as MRI, to assess the eye structure and any associated abnormalities. In the case of Freddie (right), an MRI revealed a large retinal-choroidal coloboma associated with the microphthalmic eye. The imaging showed extension of the cyst into the retrobulbar space and nasopharynx, with some bone deformation. Microphthalmia may be associated with other developmental problems such as hydrocephalus and corpus callosal (white matter) abnormalities.   Histopathology of the removed eye confirmed the absence of typical ocular structures. Is it Inherited? Microphthalmia is recognized in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed and is suspected to be an inherited condition. While specific genetic patterns are not detailed in the case report, the reference to human cases links this condition to genetic abnormalities on chromosome 15 (15q12-q15). How is it Treated? Management of this condition depends on its impact on the dog. Since many dogs with microphthalmia and colobomas may not exhibit significant problems beyond blindness, monitoring is often recommended. If there is extensive globe expansion by the cyst then the eye may need to be removed and It is advised to keep watch for any new signs, such as pain or respiratory changes. What is the Impact on the Dog? The impact on the dog can vary. Many affected dogs are primarily blind but otherwise have a good quality of life. The cysts themselves may not significantly impact the dog's daily activities unless they lead to pain or complications.