Fuchs Dystrophy

What is Fuchs dystrophy?

Fuchs' dystrophy is an eye disease that affects the cornea—the clear, dome-shaped structure that covers the front of the eye. This condition specifically affects the corneal endothelium, the innermost layer of the cornea. Fuchs dystrophy, also known as Fuchs' corneal dystrophy, is a genetic condition that primarily affects the corneal endothelium. This layer is responsible for maintaining corneal clarity by pumping out excess fluid. When these endothelial cells begin to dysfunction or die, fluid accumulates in the cornea, causing it to swell and become cloudy, which can significantly impair vision.

What are the symptoms of Fuchs dystrophy?

• Blurred or cloudy vision, more so in the morning
• Fluctuation of vision throughout the day
• Glare and halos around lights
• Eye discomfort or pain in the later stages
  

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What Causes Fuchs Dystrophy?

• Often inherited genetically, but it can also occur without a family history.
• Family members can be affected to different degrees or not at all.
• Most commonly affects individuals over 50 years old.
• More prevalent in women than men.

What are the Treatment Options?

Non-Surgical Treatment:

• Hypertonic saline eye drops or ointments to reduce corneal swelling. This is a temporary treatment that helps in the early stages of the disease

​​​​​​​Surgical Treatment:

• DMEK ( Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) or DSAEK ( Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty) are both partial-thickness corneal transplant surgeries used to treat diseases like Fuchs’ dystrophy. They replace only the damaged inner layers of the cornea instead of the full corneal thickness, which makes recovery faster and outcomes better than traditional full-thickness transplants.