Fuchs’ dystrophy, the silent and gradual vision killer


Constant headaches, eye strain and light sensitivity are some of the indicators that you might be suffering from Fuchs’ dystrophy. (Rawpixel pic)

Lazim (not his real name) had been experiencing deteriorating eyesight for the past few years now. His optometrist had diagnosed and treated the blurriness, halos and cloudiness by prescribing him with glasses.

However, in June 2019, Lazim knew his eye issues had become serious.

When glancing to the right to speak to his daughter, he realised his vision was so cloudy that he couldn’t see anything but her silhouette.

Lazim immediately contacted a cornea specialist and within the week, was told that he had Fuchs’ dystrophy, which would only worsen in time.

Fluid buildup in Lazim’s corneas had caused both to swell and thicken. This led to blurred or cloudy vision and eye discomfort. Fuchs’ dystrophy usually affects both eyes.

While waiting for the corrective procedure to be performed, Lazim found that his whole life  revolved around trying to put up with his worsening eye condition.

He began experiencing headaches, eye strain, light sensitivity and his vision continued to decline, which depressed him as he could no longer read, a favourite pastime of his.

Worse still, this condition began to affect his marriage, his relationship with his children, his job, his social life and his ability to remain physically active.

It got so bad that he began to identify his days as “good eye days” or “bad eye days.” Needless to say, Lazim was anxious to be treated, recover and return to his normal way of life.

DSAEK treatment is usually prescribed to individuals with permanent or serious cornea damage. (Unsplash pic)

He was told that the procedure he would undergo was called Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK), a newer, more sophisticated type of corneal transplant.

This treatment, while a great and wonderful option, is not always prescribed for those who require a corneal transplant.

DSAEK is a somewhat partial corneal transplant. Those who benefit most from DSAEK are individuals with permanent damage or loss to the cells that line the inner layer of the cornea.

These cells are responsible for keeping the cornea clear, compact and in a relatively dehydrated state so that the cornea can be seen through the same way you might see through a piece of clear glass.

Damage to the endothelial cells results in a thickened, hazy cornea that becomes difficult to see through.

Thus, Lazim was informed by specialists that DSAEK had revolutionised corneal transplants and would involve a much smaller incision and very few sutures.

He was also pleasantly surprised when he was informed that his recovery time would be significantly reduced and that his vision potential would be reached more quickly. This was in stark contrast to the traditional penetrating keratoplasty, which is a 45-minute outpatient procedure.

In the months since his corneal transplant, Lazim’s vision has improved to the point that he no longer requires the use of his glasses all the time.

His new corneas are clear – no cloudiness, no halos, no light sensitivity and, best of all, no headaches. Lazim is also overjoyed that he is able to exercise and play with his daughters without fear of injuring himself.

He now also stays up late and gets up early without suffering the painful consequences of severely swollen corneas. Simply put, his life no longer revolves around his troublesome and debilitating eye condition.

In this instance, Lazim’s experience is a reminder to always take the time to enjoy and appreciate the visual beauty that surrounds you and to take good care of your eyes.

And of course, do see an eye specialist if you are experiencing any visual disturbance or loss of vision. It may just be something serious.

TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life after that. Feel free to email [email protected] to share your story.

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