Are certain eye problems hereditary or environmental?

According to Dr Yolandie Coetzee from Envision Sight, many of the leading causes of blindness are linked to genetics factors. She said inherited eye diseases cause more than 60% of blindness in infants.

However, she pointed out that it is almost impossible to determine whether genetics or environmental factors are to blame for eye disorders as the issue is so complex.

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“In adults, diseases like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration – both of which are leading causes of blindness can be the result of a mix of genetic and environmental factors.  Diabetes, which may be caused by a combination of genetic makeup, family history, health and environmental factors, such as lifestyle, is a leading cause of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema (DME), cataracts, and glaucoma,” said Coetzee.

Coetzee advised those who are curious about their family’s vision history and how it might affect their children to go see an eye doctor.

“You can also look at the prevalence of eye disease in your family, genes for certain eye diseases have been extensively mapped so gene testing would be a great predictor of a condition such as inherited retinal disease, ” Coetzee said.

In South Africa, myopia, glaucoma, acute macular degeneration and diabetes are the leading causes of vision loss, and all have a large genetic component, according to Coetzee.

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“Although not much can be done to prevent the inheritance of a gene, research in the field of gene therapy has exploded in the last 15 years. The human retina is ideal for the assessment of gene and cell therapies because of its accessibility for monitoring, imaging, and surgical manipulation,” Coetzee added.

Although poor eyesight is often hereditary, the number of people with near-sightedness – which has a strong genetic component – has almost doubled in the past decade, according to global studies. Coetzee said that time spent in front of computers and cell phones could be significant contributing factors to eye issues such as near-sightedness.

“According to a few epidemiological studies, spending time outdoors in early childhood also reduces the onset of myopia, or near-sightedness, which has become more prevalent in recent years. This is just one example of how lifestyle rather than genetics may affect your eye health,” said Coetzee.

Coetzee advised that, in general, a healthy lifestyle is important for maintaining good eyesight.

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“A poor diet, smoking, and unhealthy BMI (body mass index) may increase your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration. That’s why it is important to follow a healthy diet and manage bodyweight, not smoke, and exercise regularly. For patients with glaucoma, a vegan diet and regular exercise can also help to lower the pressure in the eyes. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables can help reduce vision loss related to ageing. It’s also important to take preventative action, such as protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays to avoid the development of cataracts,” Coetzee said.

Coetzee advised everyone to regularly have their eyes tested, regardless of family history.

“Eye problems are often painless and slow to develop, making it easy to keep putting that test off. Just do it. You could prevent yourself from having more problems in the future,” concluded Coetzee.