Canine eye certifications: a breeder’s complete guide

After 28 years of breeding Rough and Smooth Collies, one lesson stands out: eye certifications are important, but the process can be confusing. CERF used to be the standard, then OFA took over.

Why eye certifications matter

Collies are prone to Collie Eye Anomaly, but eye problems affect nearly every breed. Progressive Retinal Atrophy shows up in Labs, Spaniels and dozens of other breeds; cataracts are everywhere; distichiasis and entropion extend the list. Most of these conditions are hereditary: you cannot see them by looking at a dog, and many do not show symptoms until the dog is several years old and has already produced multiple litters.

Which registry should you use?

For most breeders in the United States, the OFA Eye Certification Registry is the way to go. CERF technically still exists but stopped issuing new registrations in 2012; OFA took over as the primary registry, and it is what most breed clubs and puppy buyers expect to see.

Finding an examiner

Not all veterinarians can perform certification exams. You need a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, which means ACVO or ECVO credentials; anything else will not produce a registrable result.

Understanding results

Eye exam results come with codes that look like another language: PPM, CEA, PRA, PHTVL, and about thirty other abbreviations. Learning which ones should concern you, and which are breeder-option findings, is half the value of the certification.

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