Genetic Eye Disorders

Eye damage does not always occur during accidents or traumas. Eye disorders can also develop during childhood or adulthood and stem from damage that the individuals are born with. These genetic eye disorders can affect color, vision or the entire eye.

Anophthalmia

• This is rare disorder occurs during pregnancy. Anophthalmia is the absence of one or both eyes and begins during fetal development. The condition is caused by abnormal chromosomes and genetic mutations.

Glaucoma

• With glaucoma, the optic nerves that connect the eyes to the brain become progressively damaged. Thus, there is a reduction of peripheral or side vision. Early onset of glaucoma is genetic.

Strabismus

• This is a genetic eye disorder which children do not outgrow. This disorder is more known as wall-eyed or cross-eyed. One or both eyes can turn downward, upward or outward and do not align.

Color Blindness

• The retina lacks certain color-sensitive cells. So, individuals with this disorder can not see green, red or blue or a mixture of these colors.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

• With this disorder, the peripheral vision is lost over time. Although the symptoms usually appear in childhood, vision problems develop during early childhood.