Understanding your family medical history can be life-altering, especially when it comes to conditions that can be managed or prevented with early detection. This is certainly the case for Carolyn Edward, who lives with a hereditary form of glaucoma, an eye disease that can lead to blindness if left untreated. In a recent interview, Edward, a member of the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program, shares her personal experience with glaucoma, and the lessons she’s learned about how knowledge—of your family health history—is power.* 

A Family History of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is often a silent disease, progressing without symptoms until vision loss becomes significant. Edward’s grandmother had excellent vision and did not seek regular eye care for most of her life, leading to a late diagnosis.

“She wasn’t diagnosed until her 70s, when she already had fairly significant vision loss,” says Edward, “and by the time she was in her mid-80s, she was almost blind.”

Not wishing to repeat that experience, Edward’s mother got tested and was also diagnosed, and later, both Edward and her sister received glaucoma diagnoses at the age of 39. Learning about the family history allowed them to be more aware of risk factors, such as thin corneas and nearsightedness, which contributed to their own health outcomes.

The Power of Sharing and Early Detection

After experiencing firsthand how glaucoma affected her family, Edward emphasizes the importance of sharing this kind of knowledge with relatives. By informing her siblings and cousins about their risk, she helped encourage early screening and preventive care.

Through participation in outreach programs, she also advocates for regular vision screenings and early detection, highlighting that glaucoma often has no symptoms until significant damage has occurred, “so early detection is crucial,” she warns.

Encouraging Others to Take Action

Edward believes that personal experiences can inspire others to take their health seriously. By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage others to seek regular check-ups and take preventive measures before it’s too late.

“When you’ve experienced something that can help others,” she says, “we should feel obligated to share in a way that might cause another person to take action and hopefully preserve their sight.”

Her testimony serves as a reminder that knowledge is power. Understanding and discussing family medical history enables you and others to take proactive steps to protect your health and the health of future generations.

*Prevent Blindness. (2025, January 29). A Family History of Glaucoma [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_LV9Of6-pI 

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