Fuchs’ Dystrophy

Fuchs’ dystrophy is a disease affecting the eye where the cells lining the cornea’s inner surface start to die off slowly. Usually, this disease affects both the eyes. The thin layer of cells which line the cornea’s back portion is affected due to Fuchs’ dystrophy. The layer is called endothelium. These cells help in pumping the excess fluid out of the cornea. Since more cells are lost, the fluid starts accumulating in the cornea thus causing swelling.In the initial stages, the fluid may only build up during sleep, when the eyes are shut. Small blisters may appear in the endothelium as the disease worsens. The blisters may get bigger and burst causing pain in the eye. The shape of the cornea can change due to the disease causing vision problems.