CERF
stands
for the Canine Eye Registry Foundation. A CERF examination is an eye
screening
examination performed by veterinary ophthalmologists who are
board
certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. The
opthalmologists
record their observations on an official CERF form. One copy is sent to
CERF for their research and a second copy may be submitted to
CERF
for record keeping and certification by the breeder or owner of the
dog.
An eye certification
exam consists of a thorough examination of the eye from all directions.
First the pupil and iris will be examined for any abnormalities, such
as
small holes called iris colobomas, then the pupils of the patient are
dilated
with eye drops called tropicamide. Once the pupil is well dilated the
examiner
will usually illuminate the eye with a penlight or transilluminator as
he looks for large, obvious abnormalities. The eye is then examined in
detail with a slit-lamp biomicroscope that will reveal any smaller
abnormalities
located in the cornea, lens, anterior chamber and front region of the
vitreous.
The types
of defects that may be noticed during this part of the exam include
cataracts
(opacity of the lens) , imperforate puncta (unopened tear ducts),
distichia
(extra eyelashes) corneal dystrophy (cholesterol development in the
cornea),
persistent pupillary membranes, persistent hyaloid remnants, and
vitreal
degeneration.
The last step
uses an ophthalmoscope and a focusing lens to examine the retina
or fundus. This part of the examination may reveal such problems
as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Retinal Dysplasia, colobomas,
choroidal
hypoplasia and optic nerve hypoplasia (Collie Eye Anomaly) , and
retinal
detachment.
All dogs used
for breeding should have annual CERF exams, especially if any
recognized
heritable eye disorder is known to be present in the breed. Reputable
breeders
will have puppies examined before being sold if the breed is known to
have
any early onset, heritable eye disorders. |
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