FUCHS ENDOTHELIAL DYSTROPHY

Course overview

FUCHS ENDOTHELIAL CORNEAL DYSTROPHY (FED) IS A PROGRESSIVE HEREDITARY DISEASE OF THE CORNEA CHARACTERIZED BY THE SLOW DETERIORATION OF ENDOTHELIAL CELLS AND, IN MOST CASES, DEVELOPMENT OF GUTTAE, WHICH ARE EXCRESCENCES OF DESCEMET’S MEMBRANE. AS THE DISEASE PROGRESSES, LOSS OF A MAJORITY OF CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS CAN LEAD TO CORNEAL EDEMA, SCARRING, AND SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED VISUAL ACUITY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, EVALUATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PROGNOSIS OF FED, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.