Here is a response from my note to Dr. Rubin on the two types.  I have discussed these cholesterol deposits (both types) with Dr. Rubin in the past from these board discussions, and asked him to write something about it. Realizing he's a busy man... it's sometimes difficult to pin him down.  I think Judy will remember back in the 70's that the dogs that had the distinguishable halo type (looks to me like a senile cataract when you see an old dog with that white glaze over the eye) when bred was very prepotent in the progeny.  I had a dog years ago that had the lipid dystrophy...and it did go away and I didn't adjust the diet.  That looks more like a small bubble (of air) you might see in a glass, small in shape and size.  Personally, I wouldn't breed a dog with the distinguishable CD...it probably doesn't affect the vision of the dog..I just think it's ugly and I don't want dogs with big halos of white on their corneas.  I said when I sent the last bit of informaton over from Dr. Rubin, I would relay how these eye checks came about, here's in short form what has gone on for the last 32 years. 

When Tom O. did that first eye clinic in 1974 and found his first champion with juvenile cataracts...he had a choice as well...to continue showing her, to breed her, etc.   He started just 4 years before that...had only 3 dogs at the time. 

It all began when Gail Rivera - G and B Kennels in Vermont, was the editor of the Siberian Husky Newsletter in the early 70's and wrote an article about Northern breed dogs turning up  with cataracts.  We had an eye clinic held here in June and December by the Collie Club of W. Pennsylvania(still held here for over 40+years) and our dogs were the first Siberians ever to attend.  After Tom contacted the breeder, she checked her dogs, it was made public regarding this bitch.   And the breeders all joined in and started checking their dogs.  This bitch won the first sweepstakes held by the SHCA and was a lovely specimen..but again you make the best choices for the breed and yourself to live by.  This bitch was in whelp when Dr. Rubin examined her...but remember, NO ONE was checking eyes on Siberians at that time.  So it was a whole new can of worms opened up for the entire breed, especially Tom.  With all responsible breeders checking, we found CD  to follow closely behind. 

The kennel that Tom acquired this bitch became pretty much extinct as the cataracts wiped out probably 12 or more of their breeding stock.   But as Judy says...you step up to the plate...not bury your head in the sand, get your ego out of the way...and make a decision.  You decide to stay in and start over or move on to something else.  In those early days when you had few dogs and working building your breeding program...we were wiped out with the dogs that were hopefuls 3 times by cataracts.   Sure, it's hard for anyone...but you pick yourself, dust yourself off and don't cry over it.  AND, hopefully you learn from it and do something good for the breed with that information and your future.   Don't waste time going around looking for who caused it...you take the best information that you have and move on from that...knowing that it doesn't discriminate and it's there.  And not making excuses of "why" you need to breed this dog.  There's no dog that wonderful or a savior for any breed that needs to bred.  There's another one around the corner better and that's what you should strive for.  And, that education may lead you, (as it left us) with years of having no major health issues for decades.   Become a student of the breed.  Learn about the history and everything there is to soak up...accumulating the best dogs, slowly....learning from each.  Those years will be the most important and most informative of your life with dogs and the future of this breed.

Marlene DePalma

KONTOKI

From Dr. Rubin on Siberian Corneal Dystrophy. 

There 2 types, absolutely. Most easily distinguishable from each other. A small intermediate type that may be difficult to distinguish but these are uncommon. I used to tell breeders that if they just brought the eye (not the dog) I could tell if it was a siberian however there have been rare instances of the siberian type, in a few other breeds. The other type is generalized throughout the dog population, and in the non-siberian breeds they get Cerf certificates. I disagree it's dietary, most of the reports show no dietary component, although (again) some respond to severe dietary restriction. Many also regress spontaneously partially or more rarely completely after 12-18 months. That doesn't happen with the Siberian type.
The generalized dog type is easily distinguishable in its classic form. I
believe those siberians should get a certificate, as do the rest of their canine brethren.