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The Kennel Club has currently put the Great Dane Breed on their Breed Watch

“Particular points of concern for individual breeds may include features not specifically highlighted in the breed standard including current issues. In some breeds, features may be listed which, if exaggerated, might potentially affect the breed in the future.
The features listed below are derived from health surveys, meetings of Group Judges, feedback from judges at shows or in consultation with individual breed clubs/councils.

There are a significant number of Danes which though they don’t necessarily need corrective surgery due to the fact their eyes are not suffering from any form of irritation, they do have ‘loose eyelids’. We see them in the show ring, amongst many pet danes and those that come into the Rescues.

A tight eye is desirable. Loose eyelids predisposes many of the eye conditions that require veterinary treatment and corrective surgery. At the very least loose eyelids can cause problems because they are susceptible to foreign bodies like grass seeds and other irritants getting inside the eyelids and causing trauma and may lead to infection.

Dogs that have had corrective eye surgery are not allowed to be shown in the ring under Kennel Club rules.