Knowing your family history can play a vital role in helping you to maintain good health. Genetics can be responsible for the increased risk of developing certain health conditions affecting vision and eye health. Certain aspects within the genetic code can make an individual susceptible to certain conditions and diseases.

Genetics and Eye Diseases 

Many eye diseases can be attributed to genes or hereditary factors. These include cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and night blindness. Glaucoma, retinopathy, and AMD are leading causes of vision loss or blindness.

Other eye conditions in families include myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, amblyopia, and strabismus. Fortunately, a family history of eye disease does not mean you have to develop the condition. Lifestyle and environmental factors also play a key role in disease development. 

Genetics and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that usually runs in families and is often caused by increased optical pressure. If someone in your family has the disease, you are up to nine times more likely to develop the condition. If not treated, glaucoma causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to blindness. 

Genetics and AMD

Age-related macular degeneration is a vision-threatening disease that often damages the macula. It is the inner part of the eye structure vital for central vision. A family history of AMD makes individuals four times more likely to develop the condition. One in five patients with AMD has a parent or sibling with the condition. 

Genetics and Diabetic Retinopathy 

Research shows that genes are responsible for up to 25 percent risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. If not treated, the disease that affects people with diabetes can cause vision loss. Genetics can also affect the disease progression rate that impacts retinal health. 

Genetics and Cataracts 

Cataracts occur when the transparent eye lens becomes clouded. The condition is often age-related and is more likely to develop in the senior years. Studies show that genetics is responsible for about 58 percent of age-related cataracts. If you have relatives with the condition, you are likely to develop cataracts.

Protecting Your Eye Health 

Knowing your eye health history is vital for taking preventative measures. Your eye doctor can know the diseases to look out for. Knowledge can help you protect your vision and eye health. Scheduling regular eye exams is the best way to protect your ocular health.

Annual exams allow doctors to detect signs of eye diseases in their early stages. They can monitor eye and vision changes. Early detection of eye diseases is vital for effective treatment and can help prevent vision loss or blindness. 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps protect your eye and overall health. Consuming a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding habits such as smoking can reduce the risk of developing eye diseases. It is crucial to get regular eye exams even if you don’t have a family history of eye diseases. If diagnosed early, most eye diseases can be treated effectively. 

For more on the role of genetics in eye disease, visit Raleigh Eye Center at our Raleigh, Durham, Henderson, Reidsville, North Carolina, or South Hill, Virginia offices. Call (919) 876-2427 or (919) 899-2472 to schedule an appointment today.