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This is another inherited cataract, although it is a much more complex condition and it is much more difficult to tell how it is inherited in pups. During a puppy's development, certain blood vessels are needed to help develop the eye. In 'normal' pups, these blood vessels disappear after they are no longer needed (usually within a few weeks during development) in puppies with PHPV the vessels don't disappear and can cause eye problems.
PHPV is congenital (this means that it will be present at birth) and can be detected in puppies as young as 6 weeks old. The condition is not progressive – this means that once it's detected and manifests itself it will not get worse as the puppy grows older.
Dogs can be affected very mildly or quite severely, and if it is present in a breeding dog, there is no way to know how badly pups will be affected in a litter. If the Dam or Sire has mild PHPV the pups could potentially have a much worse strain of the illness.
This is why it is essential to ensure that all breeding dogs are screened for the illness along with HC and L2–HGA. Screened parents will have certificates and again pups can have a clear status added to their KC papers, if both adults are clear and are registered with the Kennel club..
PPSC (POSTERIOR POLAR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACTS)
This is an eye problem which has been present in other breeds such as the Labrador and Golden Retriever, but is now a health issue for Staffordshire Bull terriers,
It is very unclear how this disease is passed down; experts believe that it has more than likely appeared due to a mutated gene in early breeding lines. It can occur at any age in a dogs life (reported cases have been anywhere from 10 months to over 10 years) it cannot be detected through litter screening and is not related to juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (HC) Dogs can test clear for years, then test positive for the illness, which is why breeding dogs must be checked every year.
 The disease manifests itself as small punctuate (spot–like) cataracts, which are often difficult to initially detect. The cataracts themselves do not generally lead to total blindness in affected dogs (although there have been some documented cases where dogs have lost their site)
It is essential that the illness is removed from breeding lines to ensure it doesn't spread and cause issues in more dogs in the future. The only way to screen for this disease is through a BVA eye test and breeding dogs must be tested clear ANNUALLY to ensure that litters will not be affected.
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