Fuchs’ Dystrophy Treatment

Fuchs’ dystrophy is a rare degenerative disorder which causes the cells of the cornea to slowly deteriorate. The cells lose their ability to move excess fluid away from the field of vision, causing vision to become cloudy or blurry in the morning and get better as the day goes by. Other symptoms may include:

• Dry, gritty sensation in the eyes
• Poor night vision
• Halos around lights
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Sharp pain in the eyes

In many patients, the disease has no clear cause, but in some cases it is genetically linked

Although the symptoms of Fuchs’ Dystrophy can be treated, the actual defect of the eye cannot be cured. If caught in the early stages, several simple maneuvers can be performed on the eyes, such as using a blow dryer at arm’s length or saline solution in order to reduce the fluid buildup. Wearing soft contact lenses may also help alleviate discomfort. Once the disease has progressed to the point at which daily life becomes difficult, the doctor may suggest a corneal transplant (keratoplasty) to replace the deteriorated cornea(s).