1. Examine Your Family History for Instances of Fuchs Dystrophy
Fuchs dystrophy is passed on from generation to generation. It is a disorder of the cornea, and it usually doesn't present until late in life. If you have any close relatives who have suffered from Fuchs dystrophy or other peculiar vision problems, pay particular attention to your corneal health.
2. Know Your Risk Factors
Fuchs dystrophy is rare in young people (under 40) and usually doesn't manifest until a patient is in his mid-to-late 50s. Women get the disease more often than men. People who have undergone cataract surgery are also far more likely at risk.
3. Know Your Symptoms
In the early stages of Fuchs dystrophy, patients experience blurred vision (typically in the morning when the cornea is at its thickest). As the disease progresses, patients experience difficulty seeing, sensitivity to bright lights and blurred vision. People may also see halos around street lamps, headlights and candles. Unfortunately, Fuchs dystrophy is a degenerative disease, meaning that it gets more and more painful and problematic as time goes by. Light sensitivity may grade into severe trouble seeing, for instance. Pain and headaches may also increase as the disease progresses.
4. Go to Your Eye Doctor for Examinations and Bio-Microscopic Tests
There are four common tests used to diagnose Fuchs dystrophy. The so-called slit lamp exam gives your eye doctor a glance chance to zoom in on the microscopic features of your cornea to look for abnormalities. A pachymetry test also examines the cornea. This test measures its thickness and searches for deviations from standard. A visual acuity test may also be given. This test is a general scan for vision problems; it's used to identify a wide-ranging umbrella of vision problems. Finally, if your eye doctor wants a deep look at the endothelium cells in your eye, she may use a specular microscope test.
