Fluid accumulates in the transparent layer (cornea) on the front of your eye in Fuchs' (fewks) dystrophy, causing your cornea to expand and thicken. This can cause glare, impaired or clouded vision, and eye pain.
Fuchs' dystrophy often affects both eyes and might cause your eyesight to deteriorate over time. The condition often begins in the 30s and 40s, although many patients with Fuchs' dystrophy do not exhibit symptoms until they are in their 50s or 60s.
Some drugs and self-care measures may help alleviate your Fuchs' dystrophy symptoms. However, when the illness is severe and your vision is interfering with your ability to function normally, cornea transplant surgery is the best approach to restore vision.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FUCH'S DYSTROPHY?
Fuchs' dystrophy symptoms, which generally affect both eyes as the condition advances, may include:
- Blurred or hazy vision, sometimes known as a general loss of clarity of vision.
- Fluctuation in eyesight, with severe symptoms first thing in the morning and progressively improving over the day. As the condition advances, hazy vision may take longer to improve or may not improve at all.
- Glare, which can impair your vision in both dark and bright lighting.
- Seeing halo effects around lights.
- Tiny blisters on the surface of your cornea may cause pain or grittiness.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FUCH'S DYSTROPY?
Endothelial cells, which line the inner of the cornea, normally assist maintain a healthy balance of fluid within the cornea and keep it from bulging. However, in Fuchs' dystrophy, endothelial cells eventually die or fail to function properly, leading in fluid accumulation (edema) within the cornea. This causes corneal thickness and visual blur.
Fuchs' dystrophy is almost always hereditary. The disease's genetic origin is complicated; family members may be afflicted to varied degrees or not at all.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR FUCH'S DYSTROPY?
The following factors enhance your chances of having Fuchs' dystrophy:
- Sex: Fuchs' dystrophy affects more women than men.
- Genetics: A family history of Fuchs' dystrophy raises your chances.
- Age: Although there is a rare early-onset variant of Fuchs' dystrophy, the illness normally begins in the 30s and 40s, with symptoms appearing later.
HOW IS FUCH'S DYSTROPY DIAGNOSED?
In addition to assessing your vision, your doctor may order the following tests to establish whether you have Fuchs' dystrophy:
- Cornea grading and examination: Your doctor will diagnose Fuchs' dystrophy by looking for irregular bumps (guttae) on the inner surface of the cornea with an optical microscope (slit lamp). He or she will next examine the edema in your cornea and stage your condition.
- Corneal thickness: To determine the thickness of the cornea, your doctor may perform a procedure known as corneal pachymetry.
- Corneal tomography: To detect early indications of corneal swelling, your doctor may take a specific image of your cornea (tomography).
- Corneal cell count: Your doctor may use a specific equipment to count, shape, and measure the cells that line the rear of the cornea. This test, however, is optional.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR FUCH'S DYSTROPHY?
Some nonsurgical therapies and self-care practices may aid in the relief of Fuchs' dystrophy symptoms. If you have a serious condition, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Medication and other treatments
- Eye medication: Eyedrops or ointments containing 5% sodium chloride can help lower the quantity of moisture in your cornea.
- Soft contact lenses: These serve as a pain-relieving coating.
Surgery
People who have progressed Fuchs' dystrophy surgery often have significantly improved eyesight and stay symptom-free for years. Surgical alternatives include:
- Transplanting the inner layer of the cornea: This surgery, known as Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), replaces the back layer of the cornea with healthy endothelial cells from a donor. The treatment is often performed in an outpatient environment under local anaesthetic.
- Transplanting the cornea: DMEK may not be a possibility if you have another eye ailment or have had previous eye surgery. A partial-thickness cornea transplant, also known as Descemet-stripping endothelial keratoplasty, may be recommended by your doctor (DSEK). A full-thickness cornea transplant, known as penetrating keratoplasty (PK), may be indicated in rare cases.
Future treatment options
A number of novel medicines are being researched, which may affect how Fuchs' dystrophy is handled in the future. Following the discovery of the genetic defect linked with the majority of instances of Fuchs' dystrophy, there is a greater knowledge of how the illness may evolve, which opens the door to nonsurgical therapy in the future. Several eyedrop therapies are being researched and may soon enter clinical trials. Novel surgical procedures are also being researched to see whether they might be beneficial.
HOME REMEDIES FOR FUCH'S DYSTROPHY
You can attempt these ways to assist minimize glare or calm your eyes in addition to following your doctor's care recommendations.
- Apply nonprescription (over-the-counter) salt solution (5 percent sodium chloride) eyedrops or ointment.
- Using a hair dryer, blow dry your eyes. Hold it at arm's length and blow warm, not hot, air across your face, especially first thing in the morning when swelling is at its worst. This helps to drain extra fluid from the cornea, reducing swelling.
CONCLUSION
Fuchs' dystrophy is a condition that worsens with time. It's better to diagnose the condition early on to avoid visual difficulties and reduce any eye irritation.
The problem is that you may not realize you have Fuchs' dystrophy until you see more obvious symptoms. Regular eye exams can aid in the detection of eye illnesses such as Fuchs'.
This corneal condition has no known treatment. The objective of therapy is to help reduce the consequences of Fuchs' dystrophy on your vision and eye comfort.