Tag Archives: Fuchs dystrophy

The reason I was blind for a while

And the beat(ing) goes on…

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This is something of a progress report and a self-indulgent moan combined.

I have no clue if this is normal – it may be that I simply read too much into things, and that exaggerate the severity of symptoms simply because I know that I should have them. However, this morning, on waking, I found myself unable to focus on a printed page.

I can read, but only by moving things around and interpreting the changing shapes, and this is a very slow process. An episode of scintillating scotoma which obscures a further part of my vision complicates things even further. As the morning advances I hope things improve (as they have been doing over the time it has taken to pick out this note). The scotoma should expand and ultimately disappear after about half-an-hour, and focusing should improve as my eyes dry out.

This is the shape of things to come, though, and it’s a depressing prospect. Still, though I stumble around the house I can still watch the sunrise and see the shadows shortening across the back lawn. I could wallow in gloom, or embrace the brighter side. For today, the whine has been poured out, and I’ll drink no more of it.

Blinded by the light … Or something

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I recently got the news that my vision is going. Age-related blindness is something I was expecting, or possibly something related to my diabetes, but this turns out to be a little different.

The cornea is the clear covering on the outside of the pupil. It is made up of five layers: an outer layer of epithelial cells, a membrane separating them from the stromal layer (which is the main transparent layer), another membrane, and then the inner endothelial cells which protect the stroma from the aqueous humor which lies beyond. The endothelial cells pump any water which may have seeped into the stroma back into the aqueous humor, keeping the stroma clear. Unfortunately these cells are not regenerated, so if anything happens to them, the water is not removed and the stroma goes cloudy and “bumpy.” Vision dims and becomes less sharp as the condition worsens.

In my case, the endothelial cells are dying off, a condition known as ‘Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy’ or sometimes as just FED. Fortunately there is a transplant treatment available in which donor endothelial cells are inserted under the stromal layer of the cornea. With this treatment I will probably end up with reduced vision, but not complete blindness. My corrected vision will be good enough for me to read, albeit a little more slowly than currently.

Of course, for this to work, there must be donors. Please sign your donor card now. Otherwise my minions will seek you out and hurt you….