We ask about genotypes before marriage, but ignore a very important life changing question…
Before getting married, many couples discuss blood group, genotype, finances, values, and future plans.
These conversations are important.
But here’s another question worth asking:
“Do eye diseases run in your family?“
Many eye conditions have a strong genetic component, meaning they can be passed from parents to children.
Knowing your family eye history doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get married, it simply helps you understand potential risks and take proactive steps to protect your family’s vision.
Take myopia (short-sightedness) for example.
Research shows that when both parents are myopic, their child is approximately 5 to 8X more likely to develop myopia compared to a child whose parents are not myopic. Some studies estimate that the likelihood of the child becoming myopic may be as high as 50–60%.
But myopia isn’t the only condition with a hereditary link.
There are others, for example;
🔹 Glaucoma
Often called the “silent thief of sight,” glaucoma can gradually damage the optic nerve without noticeable symptoms in its early stages.
If you have a parent or sibling with glaucoma, your risk of developing the condition may be 4 to 9 times higher than someone without a family history.
🔹 Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
A disease that affects central vision and can make reading, driving, and recognizing faces difficult.
Studies suggest that having a close relative with AMD significantly increases your risk, with some estimates placing the lifetime risk at around 50%.
🔹 Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
One of the most common inherited retinal diseases. It is caused by mutations in more than 60 different genes and is often passed down through families. The condition usually starts with night blindness as early as adolescent age and gradually leads to loss of peripheral vision, sometimes resulting in severe visual impairment.
🔹 Keratoconus
A condition where the cornea becomes thinner and bulges forward, causing distorted vision. A family history can significantly increase the likelihood of developing it.
🔹 Other inherited eye conditions;
congenital cataracts, congenital glaucoma, Stargardt disease, and certain retinal disorders.
Here’s the good news:
Knowing your family history doesn’t predict your future with certainty.
It gives you knowledge, and that knowledge allows for:
✅ Early screening
✅ Regular eye examinations
✅ Early diagnosis
✅ Better treatment outcomes
✅ Improved protection of your family’s vision
Many hereditary eye diseases show little or no symptoms in their early stages.
That’s why asking questions matters.
Please…
Talk to your parents, grandparents & relatives, find out whether eye diseases run in your family.
Because understanding your family’s eye history today can help protect your family’s vision tomorrow.
Now let me ask… Do you know your family’s eye health history?
Dr. Peculiar Idiagbonya (OD)