Question: I will have cataract surgery soon. I also have Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy and am wondering what the impact will be during and after surgery. My guttata number is 2 plus which I don't understand. Any information you can give me will be much appreciated.
Answer:
Fuchs' dystrophy is an inherited condition that gradually worsens with age and is often associated with cataracts. Cataract surgery can make the Fuchs' dystrophy worse. (The disease is named after the man who first described the condition
.) Without knowing more about the cornea and the cataract, it is difficult to know if you will need further surgery. It is possible that after the cataract surgery, you will need a corneal transplant because the cornea deteriorates due to your cataract surgery. Your surgeon cannot predict if this will happen or not. Sometimes, a corneal transplant is performed at the same time as the cataract surgery, but not always. In general, if your surgeon thinks that your cataract surgery has a good chance of being performed without the corneal transplant, it is best to do the cataract surgery first. Then, if necessary, do the corneal transplant.
Answered by:
Ivan Schwab, MD 
