7 - Corneal dystrophies Flashcards
Where does the word dystrophy originate from?
Greek:
- dys = wrong, difficult
- trophy = nourishment
What is corneal dystrophy classification based on?
some based on anatomical corneal layer affected, other based on aetiology
What are the layers that make up the cornea? (from most superficial)
- Epithelium, made of 10 layers
- Bowman’s membrane
- Stroma
- Descemet’s membrane
- Endothelium
What is the function of the endothelium in the cornea?
extracting excess water & other liquids from the stroma, without it –> stroma would become oedematous
In corneal dystrophies, what are the 2 main impacts on visual acuity?
- reduction of transparency
2. induction of H.O.A (high order aberration)
What is a H.O.A (higher order aberration)?
- minor imperfections on corneal surface
= when the surface of lens is irregular –> many focal points are found on the focal plane
it may be caused by: scar tissue, traumatic injury, disease, complications from surgery,
- can’t be corrected w/ glasses, but can be w/ contact lenses –> acts as an artificial lens which is extremely regular –> no aberration, light rays land on single focal point
What is a L.O.A (lower order aberrations)?
AKA refractive errors
- myopia (nearsightedness)
- hyperopia (farsightedness)
- astigmatism
- “pistons”
Astigmatism = ?
general blurriness of vision caused by uneven cornea shape. It often accompanies nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Hyperopia = ?
Farsightedness –> distant objects can be seen clearly but objects that are nearby appear out of focus. Caused by light focusing behind the retina.
Myopia = ?
Nearsightedness –> nearby objects can be seen clearly but objects that are far away appear out of focus. Caused by light focusing short of the retina.
What do large peripheral depositions induce?
What do small areas of deposition induce?
large depositions –> Flattening of the cornea
small areas of depositions –> Steeping “ “
Which technique is used to map the corneal curvature, how is it interpreted?
TOPOGRAPHY – diff colors are associated w/ diff degrees of curvature
in case of flattening –> a cold color is used
blue = v flat red = v steep
green/yellow = normal corneal curvature
(OCT is also useful –> shows areas of thickening & steepening of pathological corneal tissue)
Which is more important – opacity or irregularity?
- irregularities
- an opacity is often compatible w/ good visual acuity, a slight irregularity isn’t –> if shape of cornea is irregular –> visual acuity is affected
What are the 6 epithelial & subepithelial dystrophies?
- Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD)
- Epithelial recurrent erosion “ (ERED)
- Subepithelial mucinous corneal “/CD (SMCD)
- Meesmann CD (MECD) (Mutation in keratin genes)
- Lisch epithelial CD (LECD)
- Gelatinous drop-like CD
What are the 3 Bowman’s layer dystrophies?
- Reis-Buckler’s CD (RBCD) aka Granular CD type 3 (1 of most common)
- Thiel-Behnke CD (TBCD)
- Grayson-Wilbrandt CD (GWCD)
What are the 8 main stromal dystrophies?
- Lattice CDs
- Granular CDs
- Macular CD (MCD)
- Schnyder CDs (SCD)
- Congenital stromal CD (CSCD)
- Posterior amorphous CD (PACD)
- Central cloudy dystrophy of Francis (CCDF)
- Pre-Descemet CD (PDCD)
What are the 4 main Descemet membrane & endothelial dystrophies?
- Fuchs endothelial CD ( FECD)
- Posterior polymorphous CD (PPCD)
- Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED)
- X-linked endothelial CD (XECD)
What is keratoconus? (KC, KCN, KTCN)
- eye disorder ==> results in progressive corneal thinning
- stroma becomes mechanically weaker
- since cornea is thinner + weaker –> becomes steeper & space b/w cornea & iris gets larger
- usually bilateral
What is characteristic of a keratoconus cornea?
easily bends compared to a normal one
Clinical manifestations of keratoconus
- blurry vision
- double vision
- nearsightedness
- astigmatism
- light sensitivity
- late stages –> apex of cornea becomes cloudy & visual acuity decreases
usually bilateral
severe cases –> scarring or a circle seen within cornea
What are the causes & prevalence of keratoconus?
prevalence: 1 in 2000
causes: unknown, combo of genetic, environmental & hormonal factors
7% affected have fam history
environmental –> rubbing eyes + allergies