Clones in the ovary result in ectopic polar cells and overproduction of border cells.

Homozygous embryos show relatively normal, although somewhat disorganised, development of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The developing brain fails to invaginate into the head and is positioned abnormally at the dorsal surface of the embryo. A deep dorsal cleft is seen. The lateral nerves of the peripheral nervous system appear somewhat disrupted. In the 9th abdominal segment, the peripheral nerves are located more dorsally than normal. In the anterior of the embryo, the antennomaxillary complex is more lateral than normal, and the epiphysis and hypophysis are positioned abnormally to the anterior, rather than being internal to the head. The setal belts are often condensed in eya^D1/eya^E(P)10 embryos and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton is broad, fused and distorted. eya^D1/eya¹ flies are eyeless. eya^D1/eya³ flies are usually eyeless, but may have eyes that are up to less than 1/2 normal size. eya^D1/eya³ females are sterile.

eya^D1/Df(2L)eya¹⁰ embryos fail to hatch. Less than 50% of eya^D1/eya^E3 animals survive to adulthood. Adults have eyes which are less than 1/2 normal size. eya^D1/eya⁴ flies have eyes which are less than 1/2 normal size.