Fuchs' Dystrophy is a condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of endothelial cells in the cornea, leading to corneal swelling, discomfort, cloudiness, and glare. The disease'
Replacement of inner corneal layer by:
Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).
Corneal Transplant
Soft contact lenses
Eye Drop/Ointments
Definition:
What is it: Corneal swelling that can cause discomfort, cloudiness, and glare due to inadequate pumping of fluid out of the cornea by the endothelial cells that are slowly dying off.
Current Research:
"Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity following Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty."
-Patients with Fuchs' Dystrophy (128) underwent DSAEK which strips away and replaces the thickened endothelial basement membrane and their post-operative results were observed.
Results: Significant improvement in VA were seen among patients (majority Asian and women) at 12 months along with improved contrast sensitivity at 6 months indicating the benefits of this treatment.
doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-306975. [Epub ahead of print]
"Outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes with a low corneal endothelial cell density."
-Patients who underwent cataract surgery with low endothelial cell density(ECD) were evaluated.
Results: Out of the 63 eyes tested, 20 eyes had preoperative Fuchs' Dystrophy.Mean ECD after surgery was 611-693 and cell loss was at 11.5%. Regardless, VA improved from .59 to .32 (logMAR) indicating that vision improvement is possible even for those who have a low ECD.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2011.05.039. Epub 2011 Sep 10.
Differential Diagnosis
Low Endothelel cell density: Patient might have had per-operative low endothelial cell density which have caused manifestations seen now after surgery which reduced the cell density.
Ocular hypertension: might be affecting VA, could have been worsening corneal edema in combination with cataract surgery.
Keratitis: Calcification on iris could have let to reduce VA with correction, redness, and discomfort.
Cataract Surgery: Could have reduced endothelial cell density resulting in guttata. Could have had an effect in VA.
Corneal Edema: Due to guttata seen in left eye, pachymetry result of 658 is slightly higher than average in left eye but very high in the right eye suggesting significant corneal swelling.