The Connection Between Genetics and Eye Health

Your genes play a part in many eye conditions, from nearsightedness to glaucoma, macular degeneration and rare diseases of the retina. Knowing which conditions run in your family tells your eye doctor what to watch for. Regular eye exams can catch many of these conditions early, when they are easier to manage.

Here is how genes affect your eyes, which conditions can run in families, and what you can do to protect your vision.

How do genes affect your eyes?

Genes are the instructions you inherit from your parents. They decide your eye color, and they also affect how your eyes grow and how healthy they stay over time.

Some gene changes raise your chance of getting certain eye diseases. Others lower it. These changes can affect any part of the eye, including the lens, the retina and the optic nerve. Some genetic eye diseases are common. Others are rare.

Your genes are not the whole story. Your habits, your health and how early a problem is found all matter, too.

Which eye conditions can run in families?

• Nearsightedness (myopia). A child with one or two nearsighted parents is more likely to become nearsighted. Learn how we help slow nearsightedness in kids.
• Glaucoma. Having a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma raises your risk. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, often with no symptoms at first.
• Macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) damages the macula, the center of the retina that you use to read and recognize faces. A family history of AMD raises your risk.
• Retinitis pigmentosa. This rare inherited disease slowly damages the retina. It often starts with trouble seeing at night and a loss of side vision.
• Keratoconus. The cornea, the clear front of the eye, thins and bulges into a cone shape. It sometimes runs in families.

How do I learn my family's eye history?

Start by talking with your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. Ask them:

• Which eye conditions has anyone in the family had?
• How old were they when it started?
• Did anyone lose vision, need surgery or go blind?

Write down what you learn and bring it to your next eye exam. Even partial answers help your doctor decide what to look for and how often to see you.

What can I do if eye disease runs in my family?

• Get regular comprehensive eye exams. Tell your eye doctor about your family history. You may need exams more often than other people.
• Ask about genetic testing for AMD. A simple test can help show your risk of macular degeneration. Learn more about genetic testing for macular degeneration.
• Don't smoke. Smoking raises the risk of several eye diseases, including macular degeneration.
• Eat well and stay active. A balanced diet with leafy greens and regular exercise support your overall health and your eyes.
• Manage your blood pressure and blood sugar. Both affect the blood vessels in your eyes.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays when you are outdoors.
• Get your children's eyes checked. If nearsightedness or other eye problems run in your family, start exams early.

How does technology help find inherited eye disease?

Every patient at Bolt Eye Group gets retinal photos and corneal topography for a $39 imaging fee. The retinal photos let your doctor confirm that your retina and optic nerve are healthy, and show you what they see. Topography maps the shape of your cornea and screens everyone for keratoconus, which now has an FDA-approved treatment.

With an in-office telehealth visit, the same $39 also covers two OCT glaucoma scans, one of the optic nerve and one of the macula. OCT uses light to show the layers of the retina in cross-section. You take all your images home free on the I-Scan Platinum Lifetime Baseline, a credit-card-size USB drive. In-office telehealth is available at every office.

Treatment is changing, too. There is now an FDA-approved gene therapy for one type of inherited retinal disease, and researchers are studying more.

Living with an inherited eye condition

If you already have vision loss from an inherited condition, there is a lot you can do to make daily life easier.

• Adjust your home. Brighter lighting, large-print books and tools made for low vision can make everyday tasks easier.
• Ask about low-vision rehabilitation. Specialists teach you skills and tools to make the most of the vision you have.
• Find support. Support groups connect you with people who understand what you are going through and can share what works for them.

When should you see an eye doctor?

Call us right away or go to the emergency room if you notice:

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• A curtain or shadow moving over part of your vision
• New flashes of light or a sudden shower of floaters
• Severe eye pain with nausea, headache or halos around lights

Book an exam soon if glaucoma or macular degeneration runs in your family and you haven't had an exam in the last year. Also book one if you have trouble seeing at night, you notice you are losing side vision, or your child's glasses prescription keeps going up.

How we do it at Bolt Eye Group

Our comprehensive exams include a full eye-health check, not just a glasses prescription. We ask about your family history, look closely at your retina and optic nerve, and explain what we see in plain words. If you need a specialist, we help connect you with one.

We see patients at five offices: Canton, East Cobb, Lawrenceville and Riverdale, GA, and Johnson City, TN. We accept VSP, EyeMed, Davis Vision, Spectera, Medicare and major medical plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Humana.

Frequently asked questions

If my parent has glaucoma, will I get it?

Not always, but your risk is higher. Regular exams let your doctor catch glaucoma early, before it damages your vision.

Can genetic eye diseases be prevented?

You can't change your genes. But early exams, healthy habits and prompt treatment can often slow these diseases and protect your vision.

How often should I get my eyes checked if eye disease runs in my family?

Your eye doctor will set a schedule based on your age, your family history and what they see at your exam. Many people with a family history need an exam every year.

Book an exam at your nearest Bolt Eye Group office

If eye disease runs in your family, let's look together. Book an exam at your nearest Bolt Eye Group office in Canton, East Cobb, Lawrenceville, Riverdale or Johnson City, TN. Find hours and directions on our locations page.