According to the Cleveland Clinic, researchers have determined that the most common eye disorders in children and adults have a genetic component. However, there are many less common eye disorders that are inherited as well, and more inherited eye diseases are discovered each year. Some, but not all, of these genetic diseases may have treatment options that may preserve visual acuity; it is important to know which conditions might have options.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic retinal condition where the cells in the retina degenerate over time with the endpoint being blindness. The vision starts to decrease during childhood, and eventually the patient is left with a small amount of center vision and very little peripheral vision. There is no treatment or cure for retinitis pigmentosa.
Color Blindness
Color blindness is a genetic condition where the eyes do not process colors the proper way. Colorblindness rarely occurs in women and affects 1 in 10 men, according to the Cleveland Clinic website. Men with color blindness typically have otherwise normal vision and usually do not experience any further vision loss.
Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is a condition that affects young men who develop sudden blindness and have a family history of blindness. These young men experience a loss of central vision that occurs over a few weeks. The young man develops visual field defects and loss of color vision, and on examination, the doctor sees paleness of the optic nerve. This is a hereditary condition; there is no cure.
Congenital Glaucoma
In congenital glaucoma, infants are either born with high eye pressure, or develop high eye pressure shortly after birth. This is a rare form of glaucoma and usually affects more boys than girls. The increased eye pressure is caused by problems in the development of the drainage channel inside the eye before birth. The specific genes responsible for this disorder are not fully understood. If not treated promptly, the infant may have significant vision loss.
Albinism
The disease albinism is a group of several inherited conditions where the body does not produce the pigment melanin. The eye is impacted by the lack of melanin; the iris, or the colored part of the eye, is almost translucent and is unable to block sunlight from going into the eye. This causes light sensitivity. Other eye problems that are associated with albinism are strabismus, or crossed eyes; nystagmus, or a rapid back and forth motion of the eyes; and high nearsightedness or farsightedness.
