Definition of Fuchs' Dystrophy

Fuchs' dystrophy is a condition that can impair a person's vision. Unlike cataracts which make a person's vision cloudy, Fuchs' dystrophy operates by directly affecting the fluid level in the cornea and making vision blurry.

Identification

• Fuchs' dystrophy is a condition that results in damage to the cornea of the eye. If not properly treated, the condition can lead to blindness.
  The cornea is the clear covering that protects the eye. On the back of the cornea is a layer of cells called endothelium, and the job of these cells is to keep the eye free from an influx of fluid. Fuchs' dystrophy is the gradual destruction of the endothelium cells, which allows a build up fluid in the cornea. As the cornea fills up with fluid it begins to swell, and it is this swelling that causes the blurred vision associated with Fuchs' dystrophy.

Prevention/Solution

• There are a variety of treatments that are used to deal with Fuchs' dystrophy. A common treatment is the use of eye drops to reduce the amount of liquid building up in the cornea.
  In some cases patients are encouraged to hold a hair dryer at arms' length, and then slowly dry the excess build-up in the cornea.
  In other cases contact lenses are used to help improve vision and decrease discomfort, or a protective layer can be added to the cornea to help decrease fluid build-up.

Effects

• Fuchs' dystrophy affects less than 1 percent of the American population.
  It is possible for symptoms to appear in people younger than 40 years of age, but primarily the condition is found in people over the age of 50.
  Fuchs' dystrophy can begin to develop as early as age 30, but the condition can persist without symptoms for many years before the person suffering from it realizes they are afflicted.
  The onset of Fuchs' dystrophy is gradual and noticeable. A person suffering from the condition will find that their vision is blurred when they first wake up in the morning. This happens because the cornea is swollen from collecting liquid during sleep, and it releases that liquid in the form of tears when the person wakes up. During the course of the morning, vision will return to normal.
  However, as Fuchs' dystrophy advances the person will notice that their vision takes longer to improve as the day wears on until it eventually reaches the point where there is constant blurred vision and pain.

Considerations

• One of the solutions recommended for people suffering from Fuchs' syndrome is a cornea replacement operation, also known as a cornea transplant.
  This sort of procedure has shown to be very positive as a short-term solution to Fuchs' dystrophy, but it is possible that the body will begin to reject the new cornea over time and the condition could return.

Types

• Fuchs' dystrophy can be difficult for doctors to detect early on in its development. One of the signs doctors use is the sensitivity to light, which can be counteracted by wearing special sunglasses during the day.
  However this sensitivity to light can also make seeing at night extremely difficult as headlights and lit street signs can be difficult to see, and so many people with advanced cases of Fuchs' dystrophy are often unable to drive a car at night.