OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry Exams
This page contains information intended for breeders only and is not applicable to pets with existing eye issues or emergencies. The information provided here is intended for dogs that are presumed to have normal eye function. This exam provides information solely for breeding purposes (see below for more info). If your pet does not meet these criteria, please visit our new client information page. Please note that we do not schedule time for evaluating medical issues during OFA screenings. If you require an examination or tonometry for your pet’s medical condition, additional charges of $185 plus $55 will apply, and prior approval is necessary. Otherwise, we may need to reschedule for another date. If your pet has a medical issue and also needs an CAER exam form for breeding purposes, we need to know prior to the exam. If the CAER form is filled out in conjunction with a medical exam, we offer a discounted rate for the form, provided we have prior notice.
Next available dates: Appointment Required
OFA appointments are not considered urgent and will likely be scheduled about 6 months out.
We only reserve a few appointment slots per day (Monday and Thursdays only) for OFA exams so that we can keep our schedule open for patients with urgent eye problems. These appointments are limited, and once they are filled, the day will be considered “full for OFA appointments”.
The cost is $85 per dog/per puppy (On April 1st, the price increased from $65 to $85)
OFA APPT POLICY: We charge based on the number of dogs you schedule ($85 per dog) at the time the appointment is made, as we plan our appointments according to how many dogs you bring at one time. If you need to change the number of dogs you are bringing, we do require a 24 hour notice of any change otherwise we will charge you based on the reservation you made. For example, if you tell us you are bringing 4 dogs and arrive with less, you will still be charged for the number of dogs you scheduled unless you provide at least a 24 hour notice of a change.
About the OFA CAER Exam:
The OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry exam (used to be known as CERF) consists of indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy and is 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 exam refers 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.
