Labrador Retrievers in the Japan Guide Dog Association were examined with ophthalmic diagnostic procedures. Application of the eye examination was tested on 273. 199 dogs were under 1 year old, 61 dogs were between 1 and 3 years old and 13 dogs were over 3 years of age.

Cataracts were classified by location. In the Retrievers breed, in which posterior polar subcapsular and sutures opacities are believed to be inherited. These types of cataracts exhibited in 28 under 1 year of age, 3 between the age of 1year and 3 years,1 over 3 years of age.

The role of veterinary hospitals does not only provide medical and health care of the guide dog. Veterinary hospitals must collaborate with the training school to maintain quality with health aspects of the guide dog. However, the number of guide dogs is about 1,000 in whole of Japan, and there are many veterinary hospitals where guide dogs have never visit. In order that guide dogs will become increasing popular in the future, it will be necessary that all veterinary hospitals are more easily accessible for guide dog users. In this investigation, we conducted a non-structured interview about medical consultation of guide dogs for ten guide dog users and five veterinary hospitals which have already accepted guide dogs. As a result, veterinary hospitals that guide dog users felt access easily did not need special tools and services. And it was thought that guide dog user friendly veterinary hospitals were access-friendly for all owners of animals.

This study conducted a questionnaire survey among local guide dog users' organizations and investigated their current activities and problems. Most of the organizations conducted internal activities such as exchanges of information and friendship among members in their residential areas, but the number of organizations involved in cooperative ventures with other organizations such as public administrative agencies and private companies, including guide dog associations were limited. However, the organizations pointed out problems and ideas for improvements when using a guide dog which were difficult to solve by internal activities alone. The organizations would be better informed about the current status of guide dog projects and receive useful information for solving problems, if the users' organizations cooperate with guide dog associations when necessary. Such cooperation would also contribute to approaches to public administrative agencies, private companies and the general public to promote understanding. Internal activities would be promoted through external activities that increase the number of visually impaired people interested in guide dog use and the number of guide dog users. It is important to enhance consultations for visually impaired people who are interested in guide dog use and new guide dog users, and to promote study and training regarding users' manners. Activities of the organizations are significant to realize more comfortable guide dog use.