Is Macular Degeneration Hereditary?
 Custom Search Is macular degeneration hereditary? If you have a parent or a sibling who has age related macular degeneration you are at a higher risk of developing this macular eye disease. It becomes all the more important to pay attention to the other risk factors and causes of AMD if you have this family history, as in my husband's case. His father was diagnosed with macular degeneration 15 years ago and all of his father's siblings had the same macular degenerative disease. This means my husband has a 50 % chance of developing this central loss of vision. Therefore, we are all the more diligent in making sure he wears his yellow tinted sunglasses, eats salmon, includes spinach in his diet and takes antioxidant supplements. Several of the genes associated with macular degeneration have been identified and as a result we may see genetic screening tests for age related macular degeneration sometime in the future. Macular Degeneration StatisticsAccording to Dr. James C. Folk, author of Protect Your Sight: How to Save Your Vision in the Epidemic of Age-Related Macular Degeneration , "Studies have shown that the risk of AMD is much higher for people whose family members have the disease than for people who have no family history of AMD."Consider these numbers: √ Approximately one fourth of all late-stage macular degeneration appears to be related to genetics 
√ The lifetime risk of developing late-stage macular degeneration is 50% for people who have a relative with macular degeneration vs 12% for people who's relatives do not have macular degeneration (4x the risk). √ If you have first-degree relatives with late-stage macular degeneration you will develop macular degeneration at an increased rate at a younger age. Arch Ophthalmol.1998;116:1646-51) If you find these macular degeneration statistics a bit alarming for you or for your children, consider taking preventative measures now to reduce your chances (and your children's) of developing macular degeneration. Click here to read more about macular degeneration prevention. Macular Degeneration Prevention Cause of Macular DegenerationFamily history is not the only factor for the development of AMD. The other big one is age.Dr. James C. Folk writes, "AMD is most strongly associated with age and a family history of the disease." Although one cannot choose their parents or keep from aging, there are lifestyle choices we can make that can help prevent or delay this macular eye disease from developing in our own eyes. To learn what they are go from:
Macular Degeneration Hereditary to Causes of Macular Degeneration
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