Genetic Conditions that Cause Blindness

There are genetic conditions that cause blindness and other types of eye disease.  Many of these inherited diseases are the greatest contributing factor in blindness in infants and children.  Even adults can find themselves facing blindness due to certain genetic factors.

Sixty percent of the cases of congenital blindness in newborns are a result of genetic conditions that cause blindness.  The most common eye diseases evident at birth are cataracts, glaucoma and retinal degenerations.  Other congenital eye abnormalities are optic atrophy and malformations of the eye itself.  Almost half of all cases of ocular misalignment have a genetic connection.

Even in adults, most cases of glaucoma and macular degeneration have a link to inheritance.  There are several genes that have been identified as contributing to glaucoma and researchers are beginning to recognize other genes that are responsible for macular degeneration. 

Researchers are also beginning to link certain genes to the eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa.  This degeneration of the retina is the leading cause of night blindness and eventually results in total loss of vision.

Even otherwise healthy eyes can be affected by genetic conditions that cause blindness and other eye problems. Most common problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are believed to be caused by genetics.  Lazy eye and cross-eyes have also been proven to have a genetic connection.

Other eye problems and abnormalities, while not directly caused by an eye-disease gene, can be directly linked to diseases known to be passed from one generation to the next.  Marfan syndrome, a heart disease involving the connective tissue, can often be confirmed by the dislocation of the lens of the eye.  Tay-Sachs disease can often be confirmed by the presence of a bright red spot in the eye.

With proper diagnosis many of these genetic conditions that cause blindness can be treated successfully.  Just because you or your child has inherited a genetic condition that could lead to a loss of vision does not mean that the outcome is set in stone.  Everyday progress is being made in the treatment of genetically-caused blindness and other inherited eye diseases.

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