title: Lessons learned from family history in ocular genetics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given the vast genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity seen in ocular genetic disorders, considering a patient's clinical phenotype in the context of the family history is essential.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinicians can improve patient care by appropriately incorporating a patient's family history into their evaluation. Obtaining, reviewing, and accurately interpreting the pedigree are skills geneticists and genetic counselors possess. However, with the field of ophthalmic genetics vastly growing, it is becoming essential for ophthalmologists to understand the utility of the pedigree and develop their abilities in eliciting this information. By not considering a patient's clinical history in the context of the family history, diagnoses can be missed or inaccurate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The purpose of this review is to inform ophthalmologists on the importance of the family history and highlight how the pedigree can aid in establishing an accurate genetic diagnosis. This review also provides to ophthalmologists helpful tips on eliciting and interpreting a patient's family history.
authors.affiliation: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype