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Fuchs' dystrophy is an eye disease in which the innermost layer of cells in the cornea undergoes degenerative changes. ... The endothelium keeps the cornea clear for good vision by pumping out excess fluid that could cause corneal swelling.
A provider can diagnose Fuchs' dystrophy during a slit-lamp exam. Other tests that may be done include: Pachymetry -- measures the thickness of the cornea. Specular microscope examination -- allows the provider to look at the thin layer of cells that line the back part of the cornea.
In 1910, Austrian ophthalmologist Ernst Fuchs (1851–1930) first reported 13 cases of central corneal clouding, loss of corneal sensation and the formation of epithelial bullae, which he labeled ‘dystrophia epithelialis corneae’. It was characterized by late onset, slow progression, decreased visual acuity in the morning, lack of inflammation, diffuse corneal opacity, intense centrally, and roughened epithelium with vesicle-like features