Microphthalmia in Dogs

Category: Eye
Breeds documented: 2
Published sources: 5

Overview

An eye that develops incompletely before birth may remain smaller than normal, a change called microphthalmia. It can affect one eye or both, and a mild size difference may be hard to spot. Some affected eyes retain useful vision, while more severe cases can have poor sight or blindness. Other developmental abnormalities may affect the same eye.

Signs to watch for

One eye looking smaller than the other
Both eyes looking unusually small
Poor sight when other eye defects are also present

The small eye is a developmental change present from birth.

When to get help Arrange a veterinary eye examination if an eye looks unusually small or sight seems reduced.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet assesses the size of the eyes and checks vision and pupil responses. A detailed eye examination looks for accompanying problems in the lenses and the back of the eyes. Ultrasound may help assess deeper structures when a cloudy lens prevents a clear view inside.

Breeds with documented risk

2 breeds

By breed size

2 Medium

Soft Coated Wheaten TerrierMedium · Terrier Group
Grand Basset Griffon VendéenMedium · Hound Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.