Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy is a type of corneal
disease that affects the inner most layer of the cornea-the endothelium. Fuchs’
Dystrophy progresses slowly. It can be found in both eyes and is slightly more
common in women than men. While it is possible to observe Fuchs’ Dystrophy in
people in their 30’s and 40’s, it usually does not compromise vision until
people are in their 50’s or 60’s.
About the Cornea & Fuchs Dystrophy
The corneal endothelial cells are
responsible for pumping water out of the deeper layers of the cornea and
helping to maintain the corneal transparency or clarity. While the reason is
poorly understood, in Fuchs’ Dystrophy, the endothelial cells die, making the
endothelium less efficient in its pumping function. This results in the cornea
swelling and distorting vision.
Risk Factors Increase Severity of Fuchs Dystrophy
Researchers reporting in the journal Investigative
Ophthalmology and Visual Science studied the several risk
factors, including smoking, on the development of advanced Fuchs' EndothelialCorneal Dystrophy (FECD) and on central corneal thickness (CCT)-an indication
of corneal swelling and poor corneal health. As predicted, being female increased the odds of developing advanced Fuchs'
Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) by 34% and smoking increased the odds by
30%. Besides reporting that smoking was associated with an increased risk
of developing advanced FECD, diabetes
was also associated with increased in corneal thickness-reflecting greater risk
of corneal swelling.
If you or
someone you know has questions about risk factors that increase the severity of Fuchs Endothelia Corneal Dystrophy (FECD), please feel free to call Center for Sight at
508-730-2020, visit www.center-for-sight.com or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.
Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
