Wet AMD – Family Issue?

While on a visit overseas about 18 months ago I found that I don’t see well in my left eye. I was sure that it is cataracts as I am 75 years old.

As soon as I arrived back home, near San Francisco, I called Kaiser and in two days I had an appointment with eye doctor. He immediately referred me to retina specialist, and in three days, (thank Kaiser for being fast), was checked by the retina specialist.

Macular degeneration diagnosis

I was diagnosed with wet AMD on my left eye and dry one on the right. Immediately I was injected with Avastin (left eye, of course) and instructed to take the “eye vitamin” AREDS for the rest of my life. That was March of last year.

After three monthly injections the doctor switch me to Eylea that now I take in about 10 weeks interval, and the situation is stable, I can live with it. I just hope that I can still pass eye exam for driving (in two years) – I don’t have any problem seeing well as my right eye is good and the left, with glasses, work pretty much ok.

Now to the family issue

After my diagnosis was found last year, my brother (76yrs – one of 4 sons in the family) went to check his eyes and was also found with wet AMD on his left eye. He is also receiving Eylea injections.

Then just now (September 2023) my elder brother of 78 years – was also diagnosed with wet AMD in both eyes, just about to start the injections.

My father had also something in his left eye – at the time no details were provided and no treatment – he passed away in 1996.

Can you inherit AMD?

So three of four brothers have now the wet AMD, with possibility that the father also had it. The odds are that this is a genetic “inheritance” and we warned our children to monitor their vision carefully, and maybe start taking the AREDs (not sure if it helps preventing the degeneration of the macula, though.

My advice – please advise your immediate family to routinely check their eyes and pay attention so if they get the AMD it will discovered early and prevent real damage to their eyes.