Fuchs’ Dystrophy: An Overview

  • Reading time:9 mins read
  • Post author:Moussa Al-Rufayie
  • Post category:Article

Fuchs’ dystrophy, a progressive disorder affecting the cornea, is a condition characterised by the gradual deterioration of endothelial cells in the cornea, leading to vision impairment and, in severe cases, blindness. Ernst Fuchs, an Austrian ophthalmologist, first described the dystrophy in 1910. His detailed observations laid the groundwork for understanding the disease's clinical and pathological features. Initially, there were no effective treatments, and patients often faced significant vision loss. The primary management strategies involved symptomatic relief through hypertonic saline drops and ointments to reduce corneal oedema temporarily.

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DSEK and DMEK: Advanced Corneal Transplant Techniques

  • Reading time:6 mins read
  • Post author:Moussa Al-Rufayie
  • Post category:Article

Corneal transplantation has seen significant advancements in recent years, with Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) and Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) at the forefront. These techniques offer improved outcomes and faster recovery times compared to traditional full-thickness corneal transplants. This article explores the differences between DSEK and DMEK, highlighting their respective advantages and applications.

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The Pathophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Corneal Scarring

  • Reading time:27 mins read
  • Post author:Alice Ditchfield
  • Post category:Article

This review aims to elucidate the key mechanisms behind the formation of corneal scars, and to give some consideration to the strength of the evidence behind those mechanisms identified. The review will firstly discuss the process of normal wound healing within the cornea that may precede scarring, and then examine three key factors within this process that have been suggested to contribute to corneal scarring: keratocytes and their activation by growth factors, collagen fibril organisation, and the role of neutrophils. Examination of the literature suggests that keratocyte activation by growth factors to their repair phenotype was found to be the most important factor in the formation of scars, while the disorganised deposition of collagen is a more contentious factor, and neutrophils have only relatively recently been thought to play a role and consequently little supporting evidence currently exists. This knowledge has allowed the development of targeted treatments, and perhaps further progress will be made in the future as our understanding of corneal scarring mechanisms improves.

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