Fuchs' Dystrophy is disease that affects the corneal endothelium, the tissue that covers the front of the cornea in the eye. The disease causes swelling and blistering of the corneas, which can result in pain and severely inhibit vision, and usually affects both eyes equally and at the same time.Treatment for Fuchs' Dystrophy can vary depending on the stage the disease has reached at the time of diagnosis. If the disease is in its early stages, it can simply be managed using saline drops and special contact lenses. In advanced cases, however, a corneal transplant may be necessary.
Instructions
1. Know the risk factors for Fuchs' Dystrophy. Women are three times more likely to develop the disease than men. Since Fuchs' Dystrophy is thought to be a genetically inherited disorder, many patients have family members who also have the disease; in a few cases, though, Fuchs' Dystrophy has been known to appear in people who did not seem to inherit it genetically. Symptoms usually occur in affected people around the ages of 50 or 60, but can sometimes begin to manifest themselves earlier, around 30 or 40.If any of these risk factors describe you, don't assume you have the disease— just be aware of these factors when talking with your doctor, and make sure to mention them.If none of these factors describe you, you can still develop Fuchs' Dystrophy. Even if the likelihood is very slim, isolated cases of almost any disease can happen in completely unlikely circumstances. Again, just be aware of your lower risk for developing the disease when talking with your doctor.
2. Observe how your vision acts at different points during the day. Is your vision blurry? When is your vision the most impaired: in the morning, or in the evening? Does the blurriness get better throughout the day? People who are beginning to develop Fuchs' Dystrophy often experience better vision later in the day— a person's cornea is usually thicker in the morning because it retains fluids during sleep, but during the day the fluids dry up. When a person is developing Fuchs' Dystrophy, a thicker cornea in the morning can exacerbate corneal problems, but as the cornea thins during the day, vision may improve.However, in the more advanced stages of Fuchs' Dystrophy, vision will remain blurry all day, and will not improve whatsoever.No matter what, if you are experiencing blurred vision, you should seek the advice of a doctor.
3. How do you see objects or read letters? Patients with Fuchs' Dystrophy sometimes see halos around sources of light. They also often have difficultly seeing or reading small or distant print.
4. How do your eyes feel? Are you experiencing any pain? Fuchs' Dystrophy often causes pain in the eyes, as well as watering that can last for hours or even days. Do you often feel like something is in your eye? Patients with this disease often complain of a gritty sensation in their eyes, or of feeling as though something is stuck in one or both eyes.
5. Look closely in the mirror. How do your eyes look? Are they red? Redness is often a symptom of Fuchs' Dystrophy. In some very advanced cases, the eyelids themselves may be swollen and red as well.If you are having trouble seeing your reflection in the mirror, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor, even if you do not believe you have Fuchs' Dystrophy. Such poor vision will need to be corrected, and could also be a symptom of another type of eye disease.
6. If you notice any of these symptoms, don't panic! These symptoms can often be caused by something easily treatable, like an eye infection or astigmatism. Just make an appointment with your eye doctor, and don't worry— the doctor will be able to diagnose your problem and help you treat these symptoms.
Tags: Fuchs Dystrophy, with your, with your doctor, your doctor, your vision, advanced cases, appointment with