Family Studies of Eye Traits

Study Summary

This study will examine blood specimens from patients with various eye disorders who previously participated in the Beaver Dam Eye Study to try to identify genes responsible for these disorders. The Beaver Dam study was designed to determine the incidence and causes of age-related eye conditions, including cataract (changes in the lens of the eye that can impair vision); retinopathy (diseases of the retina - the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye); age-related maculopathy (degeneration or atrophy of the macula - the center part of the retina responsible for fine vision); and impaired vision. Findings from this study and others have shown that age-related eye disorders often run in families, indicating a genetic component in their development. All participants in the Beaver Dam study who had family members in the study may be included in the current NHGRI study. The Beaver Dam study included residents of the township of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, who were between 45 and 84 years of age at enrollment. Participants had thorough eye examinations and blood samples drawn at baseline and 5 and 10 years after the baseline evaluation. Fifteen-year follow-ups will start in 2003. This study will analyze data and blood samples previously collected from Beaver Dam study participants to identify genes related to numerous age-related visual traits. No new participants will be recruited.