Fuchs' dystrophy

The Fuchs endothelial dystrophy is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease of the cornea of the eye.

Pathogenesis, epidemiology

With age, the endothelial cells perish on the inside of the cornea. Thus they are no longer able to pump water from the cornea into the anterior chamber. This leads to a swelling of the cornea and the corneal epithelium detachment (keratitis bullosa ). Even earlier is a thickening of Descemet's membrane by abnormal Endothelzellprodukte visible ( cornea guttata). This is usually seen only in the third or fourth decade of life. Women are more commonly affected.

Symptoms

The patient noticed a reduction in visual acuity and increased sensitivity to glare. A characteristic feature is an improvement over the day (because with open eyelids for some water evaporates ). Later, it can also lead to painful lacerations of the cornea.

Therapy

For therapy using saline ( hyperosmolar ) eye drops that are beyond the cornea water. In progressive complaints a penetrating keratoplasty or Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty must be performed.

• Disease in ophthalmology
• Hereditary disease