Numerous traits, such as our skin tone, eye color, and hair type, are inherited from our parents. Our DNA can also carry on from our parents’ various illnesses and disorders, including vision problems. In addition to environmental influences, genetics can play a significant role in determining an individual’s level of vision. While we may not be able to change our genetic makeup, we may live a healthy lifestyle and reduce our risk of developing certain eye conditions.
According to recent research, if both of your parents have myopia (shortsightedness), you have a 1 in 3 probability of being myopic as well. In the event that just one parent has myopia, the probability drops to 1 in 5. However, your chances of being myopic are at most 1 in 40 if neither of your parents is. It is obvious that genes affect our vision, even if our surroundings and way of life also impact us. In this blog, we will know if is poor eyesight genetic.
PROBLEMS WITH VISION & MOST COMMON GENETIC EYE CONDITIONS
If there are prevalent eye disorders in your family tree, scheduling routine eye exams with your optometrist will assist. Certain eye conditions may run in the family.
Cataracts
In addition to age, which is a frequent risk factor, heredity can also contribute to cataract development, occasionally resulting in cataracts in children’s eyes. White, hazy patches appear in your field of vision when you develop cataracts, which are modifications to the eye’s lens. Your optometrist might advise routine eye exams if your parents or grandparents have cataracts to detect the issue early.
Glaucoma
Although there are many different causes of glaucoma, a family history of the condition is one risk factor as bad eyesight runs in the family. An accumulation of fluid in the eye raises intraocular pressure and damages the visual nerve, leading to glaucoma. Vision loss can result from damage, but if you have a family member with glaucoma, your optometrist can evaluate your eye pressure in advance using certain tests.
Refractive Errors
Nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism are examples of refractive defects that can result from modifications to the cornea, lens, or eye shape. Visibility becomes distorted and blurry due to refractive errors, which change the way light reaches the retina at the rear of the eye. Children are more likely to develop the same distortion if their parents have refractive errors.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a consequence of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina, depriving the retina of the oxygenated blood it requires. Those without genetic susceptibility or diabetes are typically not at risk for DR since diabetes can occasionally run in the family.
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
In some cases, hereditary refractive defects in children can cause lazy eye. An imbalanced vision results from the brain favoring one eye over the other. If the brain is not educated to recognize the weaker eye’s vision in childhood, one eye will become dominant and the other weaker.
Strabismus (Cross Eyes)
Eye muscles that are affected by strabismus cause the eyes to cross internally (esotropia) or outwards (exotropia). It gives the impression that the eyeballs are pointing in various directions. Early eye exams of eye diseases for youngsters and therapy interventions can assist in retaining the power of both eyes’ vision, as it can be inherited.
Color Blindness
Color blindness is primarily inherited. Due to the X chromosome, the illness affects more males than women. The majority of colorblindness is incurable, yet it usually do not get worse with time.
Night Blindness
When your retina finds it difficult to adjust to low light or darkness, night blindness develops. Rod cells in the retina support your eyesight in the dark, whereas cone cells in the retina support your vision in the light. Mutations in the rod cells of the retina are passed on from parents to children in genetic night blindness, and it can occasionally result in loss of peripheral vision.
Eye Care For the Whole Family
We are unable to change our genetic makeup or how it affects us, but we can take good care of our health to ward against the development of certain diseases and ailments that affect the eyes. Maintaining your vision and eye health may be facilitated by eating a nutritious, balanced diet, drinking lots of water, and getting enough sleep. Eating a lot of orange fruit and vegetables (carrots, for example) and fish can help avoid several eye illnesses; furthermore, drinking plenty of water will reduce your risk of developing dry eyes.
