Why Eye Doctors Ask About Family Eye Health: Your Family Tree Could Save Your Sight

Just as traits like height, hair color, or the likelihood of developing certain chronic illnesses can run in families, so can eye conditions. Some of the most serious and common eye diseases are hereditary, meaning they can be passed down through your family’s genes.

• Glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve and can lead to blindness, often runs in families. If you have a first-degree relative with glaucoma, such as a parent or sibling, your chance of developing the disease is higher than in a population without a history of the disease.
• Age-related macular degeneration, which affects central vision, also has strong genetic links.
• Keratoconus, a condition that thins the cornea, frequently affects several members of the same family.
• Retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal degenerative diseases are also strongly genetic and often show up in younger people.
• Even more common conditions like myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) can have hereditary influences. While these may not always be sight-threatening, knowing they run in your family can help your doctor monitor your vision more closely over time.

Knowing your family eye health history gives your eye doctor a roadmap for what to watch out for, sometimes years before symptoms start. Many eye diseases develop slowly and without pain, making them hard to detect in their early stages without the right screening tools.

If your doctor knows you’re at higher risk because of your genetics, they can take extra precautions, such as:

• Recommending more frequent eye exams
• Performing additional diagnostic tests
• Monitoring subtle changes in eye pressure or retinal structure
• Starting preventive treatment earlier

For instance, glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it can cause irreversible damage before you even notice a vision change. But if your doctor knows it runs in your family, they can catch and manage it early—sometimes preserving vision that would otherwise be lost.

Asking about family eye health history also helps your eye doctor guide your whole family toward better eye health. If a genetic condition is suspected or diagnosed in one person, it can trigger early testing and awareness in other relatives who might be at risk but have no symptoms yet.

This is particularly important for pediatric eye care. Many childhood eye problems, including amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), and congenital cataracts, have genetic roots. Early detection and intervention during the developmental years can dramatically improve outcomes.

• Any relatives diagnosed with glaucoma, macular degeneration, or retinal disease
• Any cases of childhood vision problems or surgeries
• A history of cataracts, especially at an early age
• Whether multiple family members wear glasses or contact lenses and for what reason
• Any known genetic conditions that affect vision

If you’re not sure, ask your relatives before your next appointment. Even a general answer like “My mother had macular degeneration” can provide meaningful insight.

Your vision is too valuable to leave to chance—know your family eye health history, and share it.

See our eye doctor in Crystal Lake and Algonquin, IL, Dr. Jeffrey Porter, to get a comprehensive eye exam.

Our optometrists in Crystal Lake and Algonquin, IL are dedicated to providing exceptional eye checkups to residents of Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Illinois, and surrounding areas. 

Contact us:

Walmart Vision Center Crystal Lake, IL

815-477-4053

Walmart Vision Center Algonquin, IL

847-458-5796