Monnett Eye & Optical Center

Fuchs Dystrophy is also known as Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, is a slowly progressing corneal disease that usually affects both eyes and is slightly more common in women than in men. Although doctors can often see early signs of Fuchs' dystrophy in people in their 30s and 40s, the disease rarely affects vision until people reach their 50s and 60s.

Typical complaints among people with Fuchs’ dystrophy include:

• Hazy vision that is often most pronounced in the morning
• Fluctuating vision
• Glare when looking at lights
• Light sensitivity
• Sandy, gritty sensation
• Episodes of sharp, sometimes incapacitating pain
• Detection and Diagnosis

he normal cornea has vital cells on it's inner surface. Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy refers to a genetically predetermined failure of these vital cells on the inside of the cornea.

These cells do not replicate, and their failure leads to gradual loss of vision. There is no prevention for this condition, and no identifiable cause. Early diagnosis and monitoring allow patients to plan for changes in vision. Eventually, vision will deteriorate.

The cells on the inner cornea keep the cornea clear. When the cells fail, their number is significantly reduced and the cornea then swells and becomes cloudy, causing vision to decline. Pain and inflammation may develop, and the eye may develop sight threatening infections or glaucoma.


Fuchs’ Dystrophy in Patients with Cataracts
As people age, the lens can often becomes cloudy, developing into a cataract. Cataract surgery is very common procedure performed here in our Sebastian Surgery Center.

Our Cataracts Surgeries have very high success rate. When patients with Fuchs’ dystrophy develop cataract, it is important for our doctors to take special considerations. A recommendation may be made to combine cataract surgery with corneal transplantation. These combined surgeries can achieve what would otherwise require two separate surgeries resulting in a longer post-operative recovery.

More details about this combined surgery are available from the staff at Monnett Eye Center.

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