Knowledge Hub
Access valuable information to help pet owners and veterinarians improve canine health and quality of life.
Eye Health Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds research to better understand and treat diseases of the canine eye and visual system.
Read MoreCanine Eye Health
Dog owners rely on general practice veterinarians to help maintain their pet’s overall health and well-being. Some conditions, however, require specialized care that falls outside the scope of what general practice veterinarians can provide. In these cases, specialists must be consulted. A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional training and passed an […]
Read More02432-A: Tears as a Source of Biomarkers for Dry Eye in the Dog
Dry eye (DE) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a painful disease in dogs and humans where insufficient tear production can cause pain, corneal ulceration and blindness. KCS in dogs is commonly immune-mediated, where the dog’s immune system attacks the tear glands. However, the mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood. In humans, long […]
Read More02948-A: Effect of Glycemic Control on the Onset of Cataract Development in Diabetic Dogs
Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder in dogs. Its most common long-term complication is cataract formation, occurring in about half of the dogs within six months of diagnosis. Diabetic cataracts typically develop quickly, causing blindness and requiring expensive surgery to restore vision. It is generally assumed that tight control of blood glucose levels delays […]
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Vision Loss in Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis
Introduction Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis (GRPU) is an eye condition that can affect Golden Retrievers as they age. It often develops slowly and may not show obvious signs at first, but over time it can lead to serious complications like glaucoma and vision loss. Recent research led by Dr. Wendy Townsend at Purdue University offers […]
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Collaboration Leads to Solutions for Heritable Disease – Microphthalmia Syndrome in the Portuguese Water Dog
Introduction The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) has long supported the health of all dogs by funding scientific research and sharing trusted health information. Through strong partnerships with breed Parent Clubs, CHF helps researchers explore inherited conditions that affect specific breeds—leading to better diagnostics, treatments, and breeding practices. One example of this collaboration in action […]
Read More Diagnostic Criteria for Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis
Introduction Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis (GRPU) is a serious eye disease that affects many older Golden Retrievers across the U.S. and Canada. It can lead to painful glaucoma and even blindness if not caught early. Thanks to new research supported by the AKC Canine Health Foundation and led by the ACVO Genetics Committee, veterinarians now […]
Read More00997-A: Virological Survey of Dogs with Idiopathic Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, also referred to as “”pink eye,”” is inflammation of the tissues around the eye and results in redness, swelling, discharge, and discomfort of the eyes. Conjunctivitis occurs frequently in the dog and is among the most common eye diseases for which dogs are presented to primary care veterinary clinics and ophthalmology referral practices. There […]
Read More03094-MOU: Identification of Gene Mutation Underlying Ocular Melanosis in Cairn Terriers
Ocular Melanosis (OM) is an important cause of vision loss and pain in the Cairn Terrier breed. It is an inherited condition and there is a need for a genetic test to allow dog breeders the opportunity to eradicate the condition. The condition develops in both eyes and results from a proliferation of pigmented cells […]
Read More00763: Capsular Tension Ring Effect on Canine Lens Epithelial Migration and Post-Operative Lens Capsule Opacification
The study “Capsular tension ring effect on canine lens epithelial migration and post-operative lens capsule opacification” is a two-part study looking at the behavior of lens epithelial cells (LEC) and lens capsule scarring in response to capsular tension ring (CTR) placement during cataract surgery. 100% of dogs undergoing cataract surgery develop some degree of capsule […]
Read More02145-A: Prevention of Glaucoma and Goniodysgenesis through Genetic Profiling of Disease
Primary glaucoma is a painful and blinding disease associated with high pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma affects over 40 breeds of dogs worldwide, at least 1500 dogs in the UK each year and in the USA as many as 15,000 dogs per year could be affected. Treatment is usually unsuccessful and most affected dogs ultimately […]
Read MoreExploring Genetic Causes of Glaucoma in the American Cocker Spaniel
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and ultimately result in irreversible vision loss. Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is the most common form of glaucoma in dogs. It is caused by blockage of the ‘drain’ between the iris (the colored part of the eye) and cornea (the transparent surface […]
Read More02590-A: Histologic characterization of Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis
Pigmentary uveitis affects an estimated 10% of senior Golden Retrievers and often results in blindness due to cataracts and glaucoma. There are no current methods to prevent or reverse the disease. Clinically, a known risk factor for the development of glaucoma in dogs affected by pigmentary uveitis is the presence of an undefined, amorphous material […]
Read More01612: Regulation of Inflammation to Prevent Cataract Surgery Complications
Cataracts are a progressive change to the lens of the eye, resulting in cloudiness and interference with vision. Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in dogs. Surgery and placement of an intraocular lens implant (IOL) can restore normal vision. Although every effort is made to remove as much lens material as possible during […]
Read More00903-A: Candidate Gene Investigation of Cairn Terrier Ocular Melanosis
Ocular melanosis is an intractable, blinding and painful genetic disease that primarily affects Cairn Terriers. The affected dogs have a slowly progressive accumulation of pigmented cells within the eye that eventually impedes drainage of the intraocular fluid, called aqueous humor, from the eye into the blood stream. This results in an increased pressure within the […]
Read More02332-A: Identification of Mutations for Primary Lens Luxation in Multiple Dog Breeds
Primary lens luxation (PLL) is a painful inherited disease that affects many breeds of dog. A mutation in the gene ADAMTS17 has been identified that causes PLL in at least 20 breeds and DNA tests are available for these breeds. Different mutations in ADAMTS17 are also known to cause a different disease, primary open angle […]
Read More02403-MOU: Microphthalmia and Delayed Growth Syndrome in the Portuguese Water Dog
Microphthalmia and delayed growth syndrome (aka “puppy eye syndrome”) has been reported by Portuguese Water Dog breeders dating as far back as 1986. However, there is no information in the scientific literature and the majority of data concerning this syndrome has been obtained from records of breeders, which have anecdotal reports of the disease and […]
Read More01670-A: Pinpointing the causal mutation(s) underlying a genome-wide association signal for hereditary cataract in Northern breeds
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $12,960 Sally L Ricketts, PhD; Animal Health Trust July 1, 2011 – November 30, 2012 Sponsor(s): Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc., Norwegian Elkhound Association of America, Inc., Samoyed Club of America Education & Research Foundation, Siberian Husky Club of America Breed(s): Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute Research Program Area: […]
Read More02146-A: Development of a Novel Drug Delivery System to Prevent Vision Loss in Canine Cataract Patients
Cataracts are the most common cause of treatable blindness in dogs. Surgery is the only way to restore normal vision and although every effort is made to remove as much lens material as possible during cataract surgery, it is inevitable that some lens cells are left behind within the eye. These lens cells will move […]
Read More03115: Prolonging Tear Film Stability in Dogs Using a Novel Rabbit Nonpolar Lipid (rNPL593)
Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ophthalmic disease in dogs with an estimated prevalence of 1.5-35% of the population. Despite the clinical improvements made with traditional therapeutics (e.g. immunomodulatory medications), many dogs require frequent application of topical tear replacements to provide comfort. Thus, there is a clinical need to develop novel therapeutics to stabilize […]
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