Corneal dystrophies are a group of inherited disorders causing progressive accumulation of abnormal material in the cornea. They often affect both eyes and can lead to recurrent pain or visual loss.
Types and symptoms
Dystrophies are classified by which corneal layer is involved.
- Epithelial dystrophies like map-dot-fingerprint causing recurrent erosions
- Stromal dystrophies such as granular, lattice, or macular with opacity and haze
- Endothelial dystrophies like Fuchs leading to corneal swelling and blur
- Symptoms include glare, halos, or recurrent sharp pain on waking
Management
Treatment depends on layer and severity.
- Lubricants, hypertonic drops, and bandage lenses for erosions
- Phototherapeutic keratectomy or lamellar keratoplasty for superficial disease
- Endothelial keratoplasty DMEK/DSAEK or penetrating graft in advanced cases
- Genetic counselling and family screening for some subtypes
