Dust and other foreign objects cause irritation and inflammation which may lead to infection. Eye ointment may be used to reduce inflammation and prevent infection, however, in more severe cases of ectropion, surgery is required. Several methods have been developed for correcting ectropion, primarily by shortening the everted lid thereby correcting its position. Eyes should be examined yearly by a veterinary opthamologist, a specialist in the structure and function of the eye and recognition of eye disorders. The key to prevention of eye disorders lies in the attempt to control for both environmental and hereditary factors.
Proper nutrition is essential to healthy eye development.
From a hereditary standpoint, screening breeding stock for the presence of eye disorders and eliminating affected individuals from the gene pool is a major contribution toward eradicating eye disorders within a breed. Puppies may be screened as early as 6 weeks of age for the presence of congenital eye disorders, but since many of these disorders do not present until adulthood, it is recommended that dogs be examined yearly. CERF has developed a network in co-operation with the ACVO and breeders to collect and distribute information on occurrence of eye disorders within the various breeds of dogs in an effort to prevent further spread of hereditary eye disorders. Transmittance of cPRA appears to be dominant with variable penetrance. Modes of inheritance of entropion and ectropion are still unknown.