# Eye care for People With a Family History of Eye Disease

> "My mother has glaucoma and I do not know what that means for me."

A first degree relative with glaucoma, keratoconus, macular degeneration or high myopia meaningfully raises your own risk, and it changes how often and how thoroughly you should be screened.

Family history is one of the strongest predictors in eye care and one of the least acted on, usually because nobody tells the relatives.

Glaucoma risk rises substantially with a first degree relative, and glaucoma is silent, irreversible and entirely manageable when caught. That combination makes screening genuinely valuable rather than merely prudent.

Keratoconus has a genetic component and typically appears in the teens and twenties, so siblings and children of a diagnosed patient should have corneal topography during those years. It takes minutes and gives a definitive baseline.

Macular degeneration and high myopia both carry familial risk too, and both benefit from a documented baseline established early.

## What matters most

**Glaucoma in the family**

Screening at every comprehensive examination, with nerve fibre imaging and visual field testing where indicated. Detection depends on comparing against a baseline.

**Keratoconus in the family**

Corneal topography for siblings and children during the teenage and young adult years, when it typically appears.

**Macular degeneration in the family**

Retinal imaging and OCT establish a baseline, and risk reduction measures are worth starting early.

## Where to start

- [Glaucoma screening](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/specialty-eye-care/glaucoma-management): Silent, irreversible and manageable when found
- [Keratoconus](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/specialty-eye-care/keratoconus): Genetic component, appears in teens and twenties
- [Macular degeneration](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/specialty-eye-care/macular-degeneration): Detectable long before symptoms


## Questions and answers
**How early should I start being screened?**

It depends on the condition. Keratoconus screening matters from the teenage years. Glaucoma screening is part of every comprehensive examination and becomes more important from forty.

**Does family history mean I will get it?**

No. It raises risk, which changes how you should be monitored rather than determining an outcome.

---## About this practice
Arizona's Vision Eye Care Center, 15215 S 48th St Ste 180, Phoenix, AZ 85044.
Phone (480) 706-3937. Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Independent optometry practice, founded 1994. One location. Does not perform refractive or cataract surgery.
This site publishes no star rating and no review count, because the figures across the practice's own properties contradict one another and cannot be verified.
This page is general information, not medical advice.