OFA Eye Exams

The information on this page IS FOR BREEDERS ONLY and does NOT apply to pets with current eye issues or eye emergencies. This information is for dogs used for breeding purposes ONLY. If your pet does NOT fall into this category, please LEAVE THIS PAGE & visit our NEW CLIENT INFORMATION PAGE.

 The OFA Eye Certification exam (used to be known as CERF) consists of indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy and are reserved for dogs with presumably healthy eyes. It is not a comprehensive ocular health examination, but rather an eye screening exam for genetic eye abnormalities for breeding purposes, for breeders. For example, OFA Eye Certification exams do not entail measuring tear production, applying dye to the eyes for detecting corneal ulcers, or measuring intraocular pressures. Gonioscopy, tonometry, Schirmer tear test, electroretinography, and ultrasonography are not routinely performed; thus, dogs with pigmentary uveitis, goniodysgenesis, glaucoma, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), early lens luxation/subluxation or some early cases of progressive retinal atrophy might not be detected without further testing and do not qualify for this type of exam. If a serious ocular health problem (such as glaucoma) is suspected during the Eye Certification exam, the examiner will recommend a more comprehensive ocular examination. The diagnoses obtained during an OFA Eye Certification Registry exam refer only to the observable phenotype (clinical appearance) of an animal’s eyes. Thus it is possible for a clinically normal animal to be a carrier (abnormal genotype) of genetic abnormalities.

Individual OFA Eye Exam appointments are scheduled Monday’s 8am-4pm and Thursdays 8am-4pm. (we do not do “clinics”) The cost PER dog is $55. Please bring registration names, numbers and birth dates to your appointment. We only reserve a VERY LIMITED number of OFA appointment slots per day.

Next available dates: Appointment Required

We have had to make the difficult decision to place a temporary freeze on scheduling any new OFA appointments until further notice. Our appointment book is currently 2-3 months out for patients who need to be seen for critical issues and we are unable to fit in emergencies as well. Because of this, we must eliminate non-urgent appointments such as OFA exams. We did not make this decision lightly as we understand the importance of eye screening and we will keep this page updated as to when we decide to resume these appointments.