Tell your eye doctor about known eye diseases in your family, even if your own vision seems unchanged. The National Eye Institute identifies glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration as conditions that can run in families and recommends sharing that history with your eye doctor. NEI's family-history advice.
Start with the condition, not a guess
Ask a relative who is comfortable discussing it what diagnosis their eye doctor gave them. “My mother has glaucoma” gives the conversation a clearer starting point than “someone in the family used drops.” If all you know is the second version, record it that way. Do not turn a remembered treatment into a diagnosis.
You do not need a complete family tree. For example, a note can say “Grandparent → eye surgery, diagnosis unknown → ask what condition was treated.” Leave the uncertainty in the note until you know more. Make a separate line for each known concern:
- Relationship: parent, sibling, grandparent, or another relative.
- Condition: the diagnosis they told you, or “not sure.”
- Timing: roughly when they were diagnosed, if known.
- Detail to confirm: a question you still want to ask them.
Keep unknowns visible
If you are adopted, are not in contact with relatives, or simply do not know their eye history, say that at the visit. “History unknown” is a clear answer; it is different from a confirmed absence of eye disease.
Keep your own symptoms and diagnoses separate from relatives' information. Bring the note to the appointment and ask which parts are relevant to your care. There is no need to put another person's complete medical record into a general website contact form.
Ask how the history affects your next exam
Family history is one risk factor for glaucoma. NEI also explains that glaucoma often has no early symptoms and recommends discussing individual risk and how often to be checked. NEI's glaucoma guide.
Useful questions are: “Does this history change the testing you recommend?” and “When should I return?” Write down the answer for your own eyes rather than borrowing a relative's appointment schedule.
Bring the note to Weber Eye Care
Weber Eye Care lists family history of glaucoma among the reasons for a glaucoma or retina monitoring visit. If you are unsure which appointment to arrange, contact the South Ogden office and explain the concern. The comprehensive eye-exam page describes what to bring.
This is general education for organizing a conversation, not a personal risk assessment.
Sources and further reading
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Bring your family eye-health note and questions to Weber Eye Care.