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My mother and each of her brothers developed age-related macular degeneration in their late 60s. My mom became legally blind in her early 70s, as have two of her brothers. The other brother is more stable. My mom and one brother have passed away, but my sister and I are in our early 60s. So far we have no signs of this condition, but feel that it is a genetic time bomb. What do you know about this, and can having information about our genetic predisposition help us in any way?

It is true that having a family history of macular degeneration increases a person’s risk of developing macular degeneration; however, just because family members had this disease does not mean that one will also develop this condition. The fact that both you and your sister are in your 60s and have no signs of macular degeneration is extremely promising. Though a few genes have been identified that appear to be linked to development of macular degeneration, there is still a great deal to be learned about the genetics of the disease. As such, genetic testing is not a widespread practice. Even with knowing that you have specific genetic predisposition, there are no concrete measures currently available for preventing macular degeneration. Therefore, the best recommendation is to maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and diet rich in green, leafy vegetables, fish, fruits and nuts. This helps keep your body loaded with antioxidants, which are compounds that have proven to be beneficial in the fight against diseases like macular degeneration. Additionally, make sure that your eye doctor is aware of your family history of this eye disease. While most individuals are advised to have annual comprehensive eye examinations, you may wish to have them more frequently, perhaps 2-3 times a year, as your age increases. The earlier the signs of macular degeneration are detected, the better the options for treating and managing the disease as well as for preserving vision. Additionally, if you notice any change in your vision, no matter how slight, you should report it to your eye doctor. Ask him/her to also train you how to use the Amsler grid; which will help you monitor your own vision on a daily basis.

Posted 21 Oct 2009

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