03/06/2026
The case of the week is Fuch’s corneal dystrophy.
Fuch’s dystrophy is a fairly common corneal disease that affects about 4% of the US population. Onset typically occurs in patients’ 40s and 50s. It is caused by endothelial cell loss. Endothelial cells are responsible for fluid regulation in the cornea. This can lead to cloudy vision over time. Mild stages of the disease can be managed with sodium chloride eye drops. Moderate to severe cases may be better managed with minimally invasive surgeries to replace the damaged cells with healthy donor cells (DMEK) or removing the damaged cells to allow natural healthy cells to migrate centrally (DWEK).
Key point to remember: there many eye conditions that cause similar visual symptoms such as blurry vision, foggy vision, glare etc. It is important for patients to keep regular eye exams, so their eye care professional can determine what is causing their individual symptoms.