Mother’s Day is often a time to celebrate Mum with flowers, meals, and thoughtful gifts. It can also be a meaningful time to talk about something many families may overlook: eye health.

As we age, changes in vision can happen gradually. Some people may notice cloudy vision, glare, difficulty reading, or trouble seeing clearly at night. Others may not experience obvious symptoms in the early stages of certain eye conditions.

Family history may also play a role in some eye conditions. If your mother, father, sibling, or close family member has been diagnosed with cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, high myopia, or diabetes-related eye disease, it may be helpful to understand your own risk factors too.

This Mother’s Day, one simple question can start an important conversation:

“Mum, when was your last eye check?”

Why Family Eye Health Matters

Some eye conditions are influenced by age, lifestyle, medical history, and family history. This does not mean that you will definitely develop the same condition as your parent. However, knowing your family’s eye health history may help you decide when to go for an eye screening or seek further assessment.

For mothers, especially those aged 50 and above, regular eye checks may be useful if they have noticed vision changes or have not had their eyes assessed in some time.

Below are five eye conditions that may be worth discussing with Mum this Mother’s Day.

1. Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy. This can cause vision to appear blurred, dim, yellowish, or less clear. Some people may also experience glare, halos around lights, or difficulty seeing clearly at night.

Cataracts are common with age, but they can also be associated with other factors such as previous eye injury, certain medical conditions, long-term steroid use, or family history.

Common signs of cataracts may include:

• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Increased glare, especially at night
• Faded or dull colours
• Difficulty reading in dim lighting
• Frequent changes in spectacle prescription
• Trouble seeing clearly while driving at night

If Mum has been saying that her vision is “not as clear as before”, or if she has been avoiding night driving because of glare, a cataract screening may help assess whether cataract-related changes are present.

Check out our cataract screening →

2. Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. It is often associated with eye pressure, although glaucoma can also occur in people with normal eye pressure.

One of the challenges with glaucoma is that it may not cause obvious symptoms in the early stages. Vision loss, when it occurs, may begin at the sides of the visual field and may not be noticed immediately.

Family history is an important risk factor. SingHealth notes that hereditary risk and age are among the risk factors that cannot be prevented, and that regular eye examinations are important for those with a family history of glaucoma.

Mum may benefit from an eye check if she:

• Has a family history of glaucoma
• Has been told she has high eye pressure
• Is above 40 or 50 years old
• Has high myopia
• Has noticed changes in side vision
• Has not had her eye pressure or optic nerve checked recently

An eye screening can include checks such as eye pressure measurement and optic nerve assessment. If there are concerning findings, further evaluation by an ophthalmologist may be advised.

Check out our glaucoma screening →

3. Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, affects the macula, the central part of the retina that helps with sharp, detailed vision. This part of the eye is important for reading, recognising faces, and seeing fine details.

AMD is more common with age. Family history may also increase risk, along with other factors such as smoking, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. SingHealth lists positive family history, smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and age as risk factors for AMD.

Symptoms of AMD may include:

• Blurred central vision
• Distorted vision, such as straight lines appearing wavy
• Difficulty reading
• Difficulty recognising faces
• A dark or blurred patch in the centre of vision

Some people may not notice symptoms in the early stages. This is why retinal assessment may be useful for individuals with risk factors or vision changes.

Check out our AMD screening →

4. High Myopia

Myopia, or short-sightedness, often develops during childhood. It can be influenced by both family history and lifestyle factors, including prolonged near work and time spent outdoors during childhood.

If one or both parents are myopic, children may have a higher chance of developing myopia. High myopia is also associated with a higher risk of certain eye conditions later in life, including retinal tears, retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.

For mothers with high myopia, regular eye checks may help monitor the retina, eye pressure, and other structures of the eye.

Signs that may need prompt attention include:

• Sudden increase in floaters
• Flashes of light
• A shadow or curtain in the vision
• Sudden blurred vision
• Distorted central vision

These symptoms should not be ignored and may require urgent eye assessment.

5. Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease can occur in people with diabetes. One of the most common forms is diabetic retinopathy, which affects the blood vessels in the retina.

Diabetic eye disease is not inherited in the same way as some genetic conditions. However, diabetes can run in families, and people with diabetes are generally advised to have regular eye checks. HealthHub describes diabetic retinal photography as a screening test for diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease common among people with diabetes.

People with diabetes should be mindful of:

• Blurred vision
• Fluctuating vision
• Floaters
• Dark patches in vision
• Long-standing diabetes
• Poor blood sugar control
• High blood pressure or high cholesterol

Diabetic eye disease may not cause symptoms in its early stages. This makes regular eye screening important for people living with diabetes.

When Should Mum Consider an Eye Screening?

Mum may consider an eye screening if she:

• Is aged 50 and above
• Has not had an eye check in the past year
• Has blurred, cloudy, or fluctuating vision
• Experiences glare or halos around lights
• Has diabetes, high myopia, or high eye pressure
• Has a family history of glaucoma, AMD, or retinal conditions
• Has difficulty reading, driving at night, or seeing fine details
• Has sudden floaters, flashes, or a shadow in her vision

For sudden symptoms such as flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, or a curtain-like shadow in vision, prompt eye assessment is advised.

A Meaningful Mother’s Day Gesture

Mother’s Day is a time to thank Mum for the care she has given over the years. Alongside the usual gifts and celebrations, it can also be a meaningful opportunity to care for her health.

An eye screening does not replace a medical consultation or diagnosis. However, it may help assess selected aspects of eye health and identify whether further evaluation is needed.

This Mother’s Day, consider starting a conversation about Mum’s eye health.

Ask her when she last had her eyes checked.