Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy

Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy is a slowly progressing corneal disease that usually affects both eyes, occurring more often 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.

The early sign of this condition will be blurred vision on awakening that will gradually clear during the day. As the cornea retains fluids while we sleep it is normally thicker in the morning causing blurred vision.  These fluids evaporate once we are awake.  As the disease worsens, this swelling will remain constant and blurred vision will continue without clearing.

Treatment can include:

• Eye drops or ointments to reduce the amount of fluid in your cornea
• Use of a warm hair dryer at arm’s length two or three times a day to evaporate excess fluid in the cornea
• Wearing soft contact lenses to improve vision and reduce discomfort
• Receiving a corneal transplant

If you suspect you have symptoms of Fuchs’ Dystrophy, schedule an medical eye examination at Atasca Eye Center immediately.