Risks for retinl detchment

[AnnaE]

I  was talking to a tech from my retina doctor s office last week and I was telling him of my risk factors for retinal detachment--myopia, lattice, etc., and when I mentioned my daughter s detachments, he said that did not count. because her risk for detacjment could have been inherited from her father.

Well, her risks were not inherited from her father. She and I are the only 2 people in both families with severe eye problems, with the exception of my brother (severe) myopia) and his son, who has RP. I was told at 18 that my retinas could detach. My daughter s retinas detached at 18, and mine developed tears and holes during PVD. My daughter is more myopic than I am.

One of my eyes detached. I figure that since my daughter and I are more myopic than anyone else, and the only ones with lattice, we have some genes in common. I considered myself even more at risk when my daughter developed the same problems. Or it increased my watchfulness, anyway. My PVD put those risks over the top, I think.

Thankfully, my daughter recovered..

[AnnaE]

Yes--I was wondering about the genetic angle.

Thanks

[dukey]

I would say you have a significant family history of eye issues. However, you do have to be careful when interpreting genetic studies. Family history does not always mean any blood relative as Dr Hagan suggests. Quite often, only first degree relatives are deemed to be significant (i.e. one meiosis away from you). In practical medicine though, this is probably irrelevant and everything is important.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Family history = anyone related to you by blood  that includes all present, past and future generations.

If your nephew is related to you by blood yes it is pertinent.

JCH MD

[AnnaE]

I have found a doctor locally whom I trust. I have also found doctors with remarkable reputations in my state. On Castle Connelly, you can look up the best doctorsin thenation.

Where do you live?

So good to hear from you. I am so sorry that you still have to be anxious.

[AnnaE]

Dr. Hagan,

Thanks so much. After all, eye doctors usually ask if there are any problem in the family, not in the ancestors/siblings.

Does my nephew with RP count? I have been told by a doctor that he does not.

Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The tech was wrong. Your daughters RD counts in your risk factors also.

JCH MD

[russell903]

I too fear retinal detachments, having had severe PVD's for about three years now.  Doctors check frequently, eg, every month, w/o any tears or detachments noticed.  But the constant vitreous changes I have in one eye make the daily life immensely uncomfortable and fear constant.  My family had no history of retinal problems on either of my parents sides.  My sister and brother have no history of any eye problems either.  I have had three operations on the troubled eye for IOP issues.  Each time the surgeon assured me that vitreous problems would not worsen, but they did.  Surgeon is said to be the tops in our area.  I find no level of competency in the eye care area that compares with other specialties-regarding research, new treatments, procedures, medications-contrary to what eye doctors claim.  I hope you have found some competency and support, and if so, perhaps you could share a name of a doctor that I might consider? Russell903