How prevalent are eye defects in the Siberian Husky?
Because so much importance is placed on normal, healthy eyes in Siberians, one might conclude that eye problems are rampant. This is not true. Concern stems from our early recognition that problems do exist and determination that they shall not be allowed to increase in the future. In this we have been in the forefront of those breeds dedicated to the health and well-being of their dogs. The earliest reliable statistics on Siberian Huskies, taken from 1503 examination reports submitted to a central agency (Canine Eye Registry Foundation, Inc., CERF) between September 1975 and September 1976, showed an incidence of 6.1% to 7.2% cataracts, 1.6% to 2.1% corneal opacities, and 0.4% to 0.9% atrophy of the retina. The statistics on corneal opacities are believed to be too low, based on the fact that some examining ophthalmologists did not realize that they were inherited or did not consider them statistically noteworthy at that time. Indeed, a separate study of 560 Siberian Huskies examined
