Healthy Eyes, Healthy Future: Why We Invest in CERF Eye Exams

At Áldott Wirehaired Vizslas, we don’t just breed puppies — we nurture lifelong companions. That’s why we go beyond the minimum recommended health testing and take extra steps to safeguard the well-being of every pup we raise — and every family we work with.

One area we take especially seriously is genetic eye health.

While many breeders rely solely on parent testing, we understand how heartbreaking it can be to invest years of love, time, and training into a dog — only to discover later that your companion suffers from a heritable eye disorder that could have been identified early.

That’s why we’re proud to share that:

Every puppy in our current litter has been examined by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and received a clear OFA Eye Certification (formerly known as CERF).

What is OFA Eye Certification?

OFA Eye Certification Exams (previously “CERF”) are specialized eye screenings performed by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists. These exams help identify congenital or inherited eye conditions — before they become a problem.

The examination includes:

• Pupillary dilation

• Indirect ophthalmoscopy

• Slit-lamp biomicroscopy

If the eyes are clear of disease, the ophthalmologist issues an OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) certification — valid for 12 months.

This certification helps protect the long-term vision, health, and quality of life of your puppy.

Why Does It Matter?

Many canine eye diseases are genetic, meaning they’re passed down from parent to pup. The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) identifies these as the most common:

• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)

• Cataract

• Lens luxation/subluxation

• Glaucoma

• Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV)

• Retinal detachment

• Retinal dysplasia

• Optic nerve coloboma

• Optic nerve hypoplasia

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Some of these conditions are progressive and irreversible, but often detectable in early life — if you know what to look for.

What This Means for You

Your puppy’s eyes are healthy, professionally screened, and certified clear at the time they go home with you. This is one of many ways we help you start your journey with confidence — and avoid the emotional and financial cost of discovering preventable problems too late.

While we’ve never had eye health issues in our lines — and both parents of this litter are CERF-certified clear — we chose to have the entire litter examined by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. We’ve heard the heartbreaking stories from others who, after forming a deep bond and investing time, training, and resources into their Wirehaired Vizsla, discovered a genetic eye condition that ended a promising field career or made the dog unsuitable for breeding. At Áldott Wirehaired Vizslas, we are committed to doing everything in our power to provide the healthiest puppies possible to our future puppy families.

We do this not because it’s required — but because we believe in doing what’s right for the future of this breed and the families who love them.

Want to learn more about OFA Eye Certification?
Visit: https://ofa.org/diseases/eye-disease/

Ready to Start Your Journey?

We go the extra mile to ensure you enjoy a lifetime of love, connection, and confidence with your Áldott Wirehaired Vizsla.

If you’re ready to welcome a purposefully bred, family-ready companion into your life, we’d love to hear from you!