The Prevalence of Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy in Cataract Patients within the Czech Population

To determine the incidence of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in patients undergoing cataract surgery in the Czech population.

Consecutive group of 2804 eyes of 1499 patients undergoing cataract surgery at the Lexum Karlovy Vary clinic in the period from 4/2022 to 9/2024. The corneal endothelium was examined preoperatively using a slit lamp and an endothelial microscope. The corneas were divided into 6 grades (0-5) according to the Krachmer scale, or 4 clinical stages of the disease.

The incidence of FECD in our group of patients undergoing cataract surgery was 29.6% (total 840 eyes). In 578 cases this concerned stage 1 of the disease, which had no effect on the outcome of the operation. In 81 cases it concerned a stage 3-5 disease, in which potential postoperative complications must be taken into account. In 13 cases (0.46%) we primarily performed a combined procedure of cataract surgery and DMEK (Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty).

FECD in the population of cataract patients is probably often under-diagnosed. In our cohort of patients we registered some signs of the disease in more than a quarter of the patients.