Corneal Dystrophy

Corneal Dystrophy

Corneal dystrophies are a group of genetic, often progressive, eye disorders in which abnormal material often accumulates in the clear (transparent) outer layer of the eye (cornea). Corneal dystrophies may not cause symptoms (asymptomatic) in some individuals; in others they may cause significant vision impairment.

Signs and Symptoms

• They are usually inherited and affect the right and left eyes equally.
• They are not caused by outside factors, such as injury or diet.
• Most progress gradually and begin in one of the five corneal layers which may later spread to nearby layers.
• Most do not affect other parts of the body, nor are they related to diseases affecting other parts of the eye or body.
• Most can occur in otherwise totally healthy people, male or female.

Corneal dystrophies affect vision in widely differing ways. Some cause severe visual impairment, while a few cause no vision problems and are diagnosed during a specialized eye examination by an ophthalmologist. Some dystrophies may cause repeated episodes of pain without leading to permanent loss of vision.