Long term results of corneal grafting in Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy

The long term results of grafting for Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy are reported in 25 patients with 33 penetrating keratoplasties, with a mean observation period of 50 months, 33% of the cases showed a visual acuity of 0.5 or better, while 42% had a visual acuity less than 0.1. The cause of visual acuity less than 0.1 was largely permanent corneal oedema, which was observed to develop in 39% of the cases. Some of the causes of oedema were accounted for by graft rejection, glaucoma and other obvious causes, but in a significant number of cases (12% of all cases), the oedema developed as a quiet, slowly progressive oedema without any obvious aetiology. It is tentatively suggested that the recurrence of oedema might be associated with the primary disease in patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy.