Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy Patients Can Regain Visual Acuity
Are you seeing something that looks like a halo around lights? Do strong glares bother you or have you noticed a general sensitivity to light? Maybe it feels like something is stuck inside your eye, even though nothing seems to be there. If so, you may have a genetic eye condition called Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy.
What Is Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy?
Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy, or FCD, is a genetic eye disease inherited at birth. It causes the cornea of your eye to swell, resulting in hazy or cloudy vision, glare, discomfort, and other symptoms.
Although people are born with FCD, symptoms typically make themselves known later in life. Patients in their 50s and 60s can begin experiencing vision problems without having any idea they were born with this condition at all.
What Causes Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy?
The cornea of the eye is essential for healthy vision. It allows light to pass through it to the pupil, ultimately resulting in clear vision. When the cornea swells from Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy, this swelling interferes with the natural passage of light through your visual system, causing blurry, distorted vision.
FCD is passed genetically, so if there’s a family history of the disease, Dr. Dulce Walker recommends getting it checked out as early as possible. The sooner, the better.
Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy and Low Vision
In early stages, patients with FCD may notice blurry vision in the morning. This is from fluid inside the cornea. When you sleep at night, this fluid builds up, while during the day, this fluid dries as your eyes remain open for longer periods of time.
As FCD progresses to a later stage, tiny blisters may form in the cornea, which can burst, causing you to feel pain in your eyes. Patients may notice a sensitivity to strong light along with glare or halos around lights, typically during the morning hours. They may have trouble driving at night, as well.
How a Low Vision Doctor Can Help with Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy
If Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy has caused you to lose some of your vision, or you suspect you might have it, contact Dr. Dulce Walker. FCD is a progressive disease, so it will cause your vision to deteriorate over time, and that’s where the Low Vision of New Mexico can help. Using the latest low vision aids and glasses, we can strengthen your remaining vision to help with the everyday kinds of activities you enjoy.
We help patients from all over the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Los Alamos areas and do everything in our power to help our patients regain visual acuity.
Do you see strong glare while out and about in your day? Is cloudy vision making it hard for you to cook meals, use a computer, or read a book? Our low vision optometrist can recommend a number of solutions to prevent glare from getting in your way. Hand-held or portable magnifiers can help you read a recipe, a list of ingredients, or your favorite novel.
If you have vision loss from Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy, it doesn’t have to slow you down. We can help you regain your independence so you can start doing the things you want to do again.
Tools to Cope with Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy
If you have FCD and it’s getting in the way of your life, schedule a consultation with our low vision optometrist, Dr. Dulce Walker. We can provide you with special lenses, filters, and other low vision aids to maximize your remaining vision, minimize (or eradicate) your discomfort, and help you get back to your life.
Bioptic telescope glasses, for example, can let you drive, read, or use a computer without having to ask others for help.
At the Low Vision of New Mexico, we look at the whole YOU. We want to know what’s most important to you, from driving to see friends, going to the movies, paying your bills online, spending time with grandchildren, cooking delicious meals for your family, and more. Together we’ll determine the best methods to make the most out of your vision.
Living an independent life is a goal we can help you achieve. Schedule an appointment today and let us help you get there.