Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is a complex inherited eye disorder affecting mainly herding breeds with Collie ancestry. It results from abnormal development of the inner eye structures, particularly the vascular and retinal layers. Clinical expression is highly variable: some dogs remain asymptomatic, while others show choroidal hypoplasia, optic nerve coloboma, microphthalmia, intraocular hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and in severe cases visual impairment or blindness.
The genetic test based on the NHEJ1 deletion is a useful breeding tool, but it does not reliably predict clinical severity or the presence of coloboma, as other genetic factors are involved. Therefore, systematic ophthalmologic examination, especially in puppies, remains essential for breeders and veterinarians.

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