Eye Testing for Beginners

 

It’s a sad fact of life that as we get older so our eyesight deteriorates.  This realisation came to me after a series of migraines that manifested themselves as flashing arcs of light which interfered with my vision but curiously enough no pain.  My eyesight blurred and I felt incredibly sick with each attack.  A trip to the optician confirmed that the migraines were my eyes’ reaction to pain.  Too much time spent at the computer screen was putting a strain on my eyes coupled with the fact that my lenses were beginning to thicken as happens with time.  I could struggle on for a few years more without glasses for computing and close work but eventually I would have to give in and have them.

 

This started me thinking….  If our eyesight deteriorates with age, does our dogs?  Coincidentally that very week a BVA/KC eye testing clinic was advertised a few miles from me in the dog press.  Curious, I rang and arranged to have my two oldest bitches’ – and hence my foundation bitches – eyes tested.

 

The eye test

 

On the appointed day, Molly and Pepper, now fast approaching their sixth birthdays, arrived at the clinic. I paid our money (£35 for the two) and eye drops were administered to dilate their pupils and make it easier to see inside.  Fifteen minutes later they were in getting their eyes checked by the eye specialist. 

 

First a single bright light was shone into each eye in turn.  Next the process was repeated with a straight line of light.  The only difficulty we experienced was actually getting the girls to keep their eyes open. 

 

As we all know, the minute you get near a Shar Pei’s eyes they are prone to shutting them tight.  However, between us, the vet and I managed to open them and keep them open long enough to do the tests.  It was all over in around ten minutes and thankfully both girls checked out with no problems whatsoever. 

 

Excellent I thought, now we can get certificates to say our eyes are fine.  Actually no we couldn’t.  Only dogs on Schedule 1 of the scheme can be awarded certificates and the results published in the Breeds Records Supplement.

 

The Schedules

 

The BVA/KC Eye Scheme tests dogs’ eyes for hereditary disease.  There are two lists somewhat perversely called Schedule 1 and Schedule 3.  Schedule 1 lists the breeds with known inherited eye diseases.  After eye testing, these breeds will be issued with a certificate that states either “affected” or “unaffected”.  At present only the results of the eye test for breeds on Schedule 1 are sent to the KC and printed in the Breed Records Supplement.  Schedule 3 lists breeds in which, at present, certain problems are suspected of being hereditary and as such under investigation.  In essence Schedule 3 is to make breeders aware that there may be a potential problem in their breed and to try and nip those problems in the bud.

 

Eye testing can be done as early as six weeks of age and in some breeds litters are screened before going to their new homes.  However, ideally dogs should be tested once they have reached the age of one and annually thereafter.

 

 Eye tests for Shar Pei?

 

So are Shar Pei on either list?  No they aren’t.  And the reason given is that “The eye scheme currently relates to conditions involving the eye itself and not those involving the tear ducts, the eyelids or other surrounding structures. Therefore hereditary eye conditions of the lens, retina and other internal structures are listed, whilst eyelid conditions such as entropion, ectropion and distichiasis are not. These latter conditions are of importance, but because of their extremely complex nature and the paucity of scientific evidence relating to their degree of heredity, they are not included in the Scheme at present.”  

 

So there you have it.  No certificate, but at the end of the day does it really matter?  I did the test for my own peace of mind, not a piece paper.  Just knowing Molly and Pepper are fine is enough for me.

 

2004