Inherited diseases associated with nearsightedness
Most inherited eye diseases that can cause or be associated with nearsightedness are rare. Common inherited diseases include:
- Nyctalopia (night blindness).
- Chromatopsia (disease of the cones or rods in the retina).
- Nystagmus (rhythmic jerking movements of the eyes).
- Keratoconus (progressive thinning of the central cornea, which gives the cornea a conelike appearance).
- Retinitis pigmentosa (degeneration of the retina that affects night vision and side [peripheral] vision).
- Infantile glaucoma.
Other genetic diseases associated with nearsightedness include:
- Certain rare connective tissue disorders.
- Albinism, a genetic pigment deficiency that causes milky skin, white hair, and pink or blue eyes.
- Down syndrome.
- Homocystinuria, a genetic condition that causes developmental delays, failure to thrive, and neurological abnormalities.
- Turner syndrome, which causes short stature and lack of sexual development at puberty in females.
- Trisomy 22, which causes severe mental retardation and eye defects.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: July 7, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology | |
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