Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy is a slowly progressive eye condition that affects the innermost layer of the cornea, called the endothelium, which is responsible for keeping the cornea clear. As these cells gradually fail, fluid builds up in the cornea, causing blurred or cloudy vision, often worse in the morning and improving during the day. Patients may also experience glare, haloes, or eye discomfort as the condition progresses.
It commonly develops with age and can run in families. Early stages are monitored, while advanced disease can be successfully treated with modern corneal transplant techniques or cell-based therapies.
Treatment for Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy depends on how advanced the condition is and how much it affects vision. In the early stages, symptoms may be managed with salt (hypertonic) eye drops or ointments to reduce corneal swelling and improve morning vision. As the disease progresses and vision becomes persistently blurred or painful, treatment focuses on replacing the damaged endothelial cells. This is most commonly done with modern partial-thickness corneal transplant surgery (such as DMEK or DSAEK), which has high success rates and faster recovery than older full-thickness transplants. With appropriate treatment, most patients achieve clearer vision and good long-term outcomes.
DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) is a modern type of corneal transplant used to treat conditions such as Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy. In this procedure, only the damaged inner layer of the cornea is replaced, while the rest of the cornea is left untouched. Because the surgery is very precise and minimally invasive, patients usually experience faster visual recovery and clearer vision compared with older transplant techniques. The operation is performed as day surgery and is typically painless, with vision gradually improving over weeks to months. DMEK has a high success rate (90% -95%) and is now considered the gold standard for treating endothelial corneal disease.