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Most of the Golden Retrievers affected in South Australia and Victoria have only 1 to 3 lashes per affected eyelid. Most do not have clinical signs or evidence of corneal irritation. I have seen severely affected dogs. In the United States up to 30% of Goldens seen at screenings have extra eyelashes.
If there is irritation then surgery is indicated. There are two techniques that veterinary eye Specialist will use. My preferred technique is Trans Conjunctival Excision (TCE). Using the operating microscope, each individual extra eyelash root is excised. This may cause a slight swelling and in some cases a slight ooze of blood for 3 to 5 days. The surgery rarely seems to cause any discomfort for the dogs. In some cases I will use Cryosurgery (freezing). Some of the older techniques can result in scarring.
With any extra eyelash surgery, it is possible for new extra eyelashes to grow. At any one time between 10 to 15% of any hair follicles are inactive. Nothing can be done to destroy inactive extra eyelash follicles. In some cases a second extra eyelash surgery may be required, in very rare cases a third extra eyelash surgery may be required.
The condition is believed to be inherited in a dominant manner. It may take up to 5 years for the extra eyelashes to grow. Most Goldens are not severely affected, but it is my feeling that we should be breeding away from this condition.
Corneal Lipidosis Dystrophy
In this condition fat (usually cholesterol) and in some cases minerals (usually calcium) are deposited into the cornea, and may result in a cloudy appearance to the eye. This condition rarely, if ever, causes problems with vision.
The most common form in Goldens is lipid dystrophy. This is where the cloudy fat layer is deposited into the cornea without obvious cause. In most cases it is believed that there may be an inherited problem with fat metabolism in the cornea. Fat degeneration can also occur in the cornea following trauma or injury to the eye. This is most common if the dog has hyperlipidaemia (high fat levels in the bloodstream).
Horner's Syndrome
Dogs with Horner's Syndrome have a sunken-in eye, with a prominent third eyelid. The upper eyelid is often droopy, and the pupil is small. This problem is caused by a disruption to the sympathetic nerve supply to the eye.
Horner's syndrome can be due to problems in the ear, chest or spine, but often despite testing no specific cause can be found.
Most cases of Horner's syndrome improve without specific treatment within 6 weeks.
As a breed Golden Retrievers have been noted to be more at risk to develop Horner's Syndrome. No pattern of inheritance has been noted.
Retinal Dysplasia/Focal Retinal Elevations
Small folds are seen in the retina. Vision does not seem to be affected. The pattern of inheritance is unknown. In some breeds this condition is inherited, and in severe forms as seen in Labrador Retrievers can cause blindness.
Other problems seen occasionally:
Iris Cysts
Black cysts may be seen floating in the eye. They do not cause problems
Retina/ Optic Nerve
Variations in the appearance of the retina and optic nerve are common in the Golden Retriever. They are variations of normal. In some cases these normal variations have been confused with disease conditions. Considerable experience and specialised equipment may be required to avoid this mistake.
Iris Tumours
Goldens have been noted to be at greater risk of developing iridal and ciliary body tumours at a young age. No inherited pattern has been demonstrated, but the breed predisposition suggests a genetic tendency.
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