If Genetic Eye Diseases Are in Your Family History, Tell Your Doctor

Many eye diseases are hereditary, meaning that risk factors for the disease are passed on through DNA. If you have family members with genetic eye diseases or disorders, it is important to let your eye doctor know. If you are at risk, early testing is your best bet for prevention or treatment. The sooner you know about your medical issues, the more effectively you can manage them.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve and result in a slow visual decline and eventual blindness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the second most common cause of blindness in the world, after cataracts. Glaucoma appears to be inherited in most cases, notes the Cleveland Clinic. While any damage done is permanent, early detection and treatment can stop the progress of the disease.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

After glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the third highest cause of blindness, and number one in industrialized nations like the United States, WHO notes. Vision is lost starting in the center of the visual field due to lesions in the macula, the central part of the retina. The macula contains the fovea, a pit with the highest concentration of color-sensing cone cells in the eye, which is responsible for the sharp vision in the center of a healthy eye. Like glaucoma, AMD cannot be reversed, but if it's caught early, treatment may help retard further degeneration.

Best Disease

A type of vitelliform macular dystrophy, Best disease results in a decline in visual keenness that begins in adolescence, notes Genes and Disease. It is caused by the breakup of an abnormal mass of fat-like tissue that develops in the retina. It is primarily found in European Caucasians and can be detected during an eye exam by changes in the macula.

Non-Eye-Related Genetic Diseases

One-third of system genetic diseases cause eye abnormalities, and an eye exam can often help the diagnosis. The Cleveland Clinic notes that Tay-Sachs disease and Marfan syndrome both create distinctive eye abnormalities that can confirm a diagnosis.

This list represents just a few of the many genetic eye diseases that are currently recognized. If you have a family history of any diseases, whether they're related to the eye, genetic, or neither, it's always best to let your doctor know. The sooner you get checked out, the sooner you can take start taking preventative measures or looking into treatments—or, better yet, find out that your eyes are perfectly healthy.

For questions or comments, contact Woodhams Eye Clinic.