Anyone here have Fuch's Dystrophy?

Posted by Bettyann @bettyann, Dec 11, 2011

I would really like to hear from people who have Fuch's Dystrophy. I would especialloy appreciate hearing from those who have NOT yet had DSAEK surgery so far. This includes knowledge from those of you who have friends or relatives that might have Fuch's.
I was diagnosed with Fuch's (only in my Left eye) in July...it 'showed up' after my cataract surgery in that eye. Before that, I had no real problems in that eye (aside from the cloudiness caused by the cataract.
THANK YOU for any and all of your replies! =)

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Profile picture for greengold @greengold

I was diagnosed at age 65 and just in the past 2 months at age 85, I'm having blurriness and loss of vision problems. 20/70 in the rt eye. After 2 weeks of Muro128 drops 4x/day and Muro 128 ointment at bedtime, my vision is 20/60. I will continue with the drops and ointment and wait for my referral to a Corneal specialist.
Betty S

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The treatment you are receiving prior to a scheduled visit is so helpful. Understanding what your options are and what to expect is calming. When a person is given the name of the disease only, one can feel left out of a discussion about treatment. My best wishes to you.

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To BettyAnn@bettyann I have Fuchs Dystrophy , but did not know until after the surgery on one eye. I was told it was a common problem; also was given a 12 letter disease that was inherited, but never the severity of the disease. I was not seeing well after three weeks and had pain in that eye. A scheduled visit with an in house optometrist said then I could have a cornea patch or a transplant because I have "holes in each cornea". I cancelled the surgery for the other eye immediately: I was shocked that I was not told before surgery and did not have any input . I am still dealing with this eye and having trouble with the other eye. I was told that sometimes it is best not to remove the cataract. So, most of the time the DSAEK patch works and is successful, but here I am in fear it won't work. This was approached in s hurried manner without information. I hope you do better and I was somewhat informative.

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Profile picture for nanzz1 @nanzz1

To BettyAnn@bettyann I have Fuchs Dystrophy , but did not know until after the surgery on one eye. I was told it was a common problem; also was given a 12 letter disease that was inherited, but never the severity of the disease. I was not seeing well after three weeks and had pain in that eye. A scheduled visit with an in house optometrist said then I could have a cornea patch or a transplant because I have "holes in each cornea". I cancelled the surgery for the other eye immediately: I was shocked that I was not told before surgery and did not have any input . I am still dealing with this eye and having trouble with the other eye. I was told that sometimes it is best not to remove the cataract. So, most of the time the DSAEK patch works and is successful, but here I am in fear it won't work. This was approached in s hurried manner without information. I hope you do better and I was somewhat informative.

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It's important that you join Fuchs Friends. There are very few physicians who are really specialized in performing this complex delicate surgery. You will find support and answers to any questions or concerns and recommended Fuchs specialist physicians through this site.

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Profile picture for Bettyann @bettyann

THANK YOU, TG, for answering. I, had a field of vision test about 3 weeks ago and the doctor said my vision improved. He showed me the print outs...and I'm going hmmmm...ok, if you say so! I don't feel that my vision in my L eye has gotten 'worse'... and so MUCH of how you see is 'in your mind'...of that I am positive. I got a little upset on another list after people were INSISTING that Fuchs is always bilateral and that I have it in the other eye, too. Well, then my doctor's are wrong.
I do the Muro5% 3 or 4 times a day and the ointment at night. I also use Ortho K daytime homeopathic drops...and right now I'm using the Systane Preservative free eye drops...because my doc said my left eye was SOOOOOO dry...so ok. Am doing that.
I am not an AMA-oriented person at ALL...take NO Rx's ...I'm 74 y/0...but it doesn't mean that I would be a fool and NOT 'go to the doctor' if I knew I absolutely HAD to...
I really do not think my eye surgeon handled the thing well. He should have SEEN the Fuch's BEFORE my surgery ... and he never really took his time...he wanted 'immediate answers' ...and so now I have to wear reading glasses and distance glasses, too. There are times, during the day, when my vision is 'clear'...others times when the blurriness in my L eye is predominant. Sometimes its just all up-ka-mixed! :)
I hope you will stay in touch. thanks and have a good day!
Bettyann

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Bettyann: I aam 79 and was Diagnosed with a 13 letter word that I only understood was inherited. A well-known surgeon removed my left cataract and did an implant lens. Follow-up visit were with various Optometrists, Eye Doctors.....By the second visit I said I did not see well, and was a bit concerned. At that time I was told I had Fuchs Dystrophy and a DSEK cornea patch could be tried or a corneal transplant. I lost it...no one had explained this and I also have auto-immune which was on the intake form. Immediately cancelled the right eye. I was told by a wonderful follow-up Dr. that I had a mild case. I use 6 dry eye applications and sometime a gel at night. Cant say I am better, but would like a new Opthamologist. I tried someone in the same practice (a monopoly) and he was wonderful. But the word it out(that I should stay the course with initial Dr. Need to go nearby by nearby is 40 miles away and not always sure they are good. That is why I am following discussions an worried I could get worse. I could use a great specialist in the cornea field near Akron to Cleveland to stay on top of this disease. I see you are doing well and if you have any suggestions. I, too, have tried the Muro myself and it gives temporary clearness. I see you had this in 2011 and certainly hoping you are doing well. nanzzi

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Profile picture for nanzz1 @nanzz1

Bettyann: I aam 79 and was Diagnosed with a 13 letter word that I only understood was inherited. A well-known surgeon removed my left cataract and did an implant lens. Follow-up visit were with various Optometrists, Eye Doctors.....By the second visit I said I did not see well, and was a bit concerned. At that time I was told I had Fuchs Dystrophy and a DSEK cornea patch could be tried or a corneal transplant. I lost it...no one had explained this and I also have auto-immune which was on the intake form. Immediately cancelled the right eye. I was told by a wonderful follow-up Dr. that I had a mild case. I use 6 dry eye applications and sometime a gel at night. Cant say I am better, but would like a new Opthamologist. I tried someone in the same practice (a monopoly) and he was wonderful. But the word it out(that I should stay the course with initial Dr. Need to go nearby by nearby is 40 miles away and not always sure they are good. That is why I am following discussions an worried I could get worse. I could use a great specialist in the cornea field near Akron to Cleveland to stay on top of this disease. I see you are doing well and if you have any suggestions. I, too, have tried the Muro myself and it gives temporary clearness. I see you had this in 2011 and certainly hoping you are doing well. nanzzi

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Please join Fuchs Friends online to find doctors and learn about patient experiences in your area regarding this condition.
My optometrist (not optomologist) told me a few months ago that I had Fuchs and prescribed eye ointment but he was wrong according to my retina doctor. I simply have thinning of the cornea. Fuchs doctors are hard to find. Cornea transplants are very difficult to perform. Consult an optomology department at a major hospital like Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic for Fuchs confirmation - don't take an optometrists' word for it.

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Profile picture for 56huxley @sjs1

Please join Fuchs Friends online to find doctors and learn about patient experiences in your area regarding this condition.
My optometrist (not optomologist) told me a few months ago that I had Fuchs and prescribed eye ointment but he was wrong according to my retina doctor. I simply have thinning of the cornea. Fuchs doctors are hard to find. Cornea transplants are very difficult to perform. Consult an optomology department at a major hospital like Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic for Fuchs confirmation - don't take an optometrists' word for it.

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I was under the care of a well-known Opthamologist--cornea
experienced... I most likely will ask Mayo for advice and where to go.
Thank you .

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Profile picture for nanzz1 @nanzz1

I was under the care of a well-known Opthamologist--cornea
experienced... I most likely will ask Mayo for advice and where to go.
Thank you .

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Sounds good. There is aftercare thats needed if any cornea replacement is ever needed and Mayo does that better than any other hospital - its self pay of course but helps with the stress.
The favorite Florida Fuchs surgeon that everyone wants to see has no aftercare available. They work around it being out of town by hiring private nursing ahead of time and staying in hotels after surgery in his private clinic. One Fuchs patient expressed at the Fuchs Friends blog that they had very good results after Fuchs surgery at the Cleveland Clinic too.

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Profile picture for 56huxley @sjs1

Sounds good. There is aftercare thats needed if any cornea replacement is ever needed and Mayo does that better than any other hospital - its self pay of course but helps with the stress.
The favorite Florida Fuchs surgeon that everyone wants to see has no aftercare available. They work around it being out of town by hiring private nursing ahead of time and staying in hotels after surgery in his private clinic. One Fuchs patient expressed at the Fuchs Friends blog that they had very good results after Fuchs surgery at the Cleveland Clinic too.

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Who is this famous Florida Fuchs Dystrophy Group Ophthamologist? What area in Florida is here or she?

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Profile picture for fritzi @fritzi

Who is this famous Florida Fuchs Dystrophy Group Ophthamologist? What area in Florida is here or she?

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Mark Gorovoy is an Ophthalmologist in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Gorovoy and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Fuchs Dystrophy. His top areas of expertise are Fuchs Dystrophy, Macular Corneal Dystrophy Type 1, Corneal Dystrophy and Perceptive Deafness, Corneal Transplant, and Vitrectomy. Dr. Gorovoy is currently accepting new patients.

His clinical research consists of co-authoring 18 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 8 articles in the study of Fuchs Dystrophy.

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Profile picture for fritzi @fritzi

Who is this famous Florida Fuchs Dystrophy Group Ophthamologist? What area in Florida is here or she?

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His son Dmitri perfoms more surgeries now ? Ask Fuchs Friends

🔹 Dr. Mark S. Gorovoy, M.D.
• The founder of Gorovoy Eye Specialists in Fort Myers.
• Experience: Practicing for 40+ years, fellowship-trained in cornea.
• Pioneer: One of the first to adopt and teach DSAEK (Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty), the surgery that revolutionized care for Fuchs’ dystrophy.
• Role today: He remains an authority and educator but may not personally perform the same volume of surgeries as before, focusing more on complex cases and oversight.

🔹 Dr. Dimitri T. Gorovoy, M.D.
• His son, who trained at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (Miami), one of the top ophthalmology programs in the world.
• Specialty: Cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery.
• Focus: Actively performing a very high surgical volume—hundreds of endothelial keratoplasties (DMEK/DSAEK) and cataracts annually.
• Innovation: Known for refining surgical techniques and pushing the practice forward with the newest methods (like DMEK, a thinner, more modern corneal transplant than DSAEK).
• Reputation: Often described as the “go-to” surgeon for Fuchs’ dystrophy in Florida, because of his surgical volume and outcomes.

⚖️ Comparison
• If you want the pioneer and decades of wisdom, Mark Gorovoy is the original leader in this field.
• If you want the most active, current, high-volume surgeon performing hundreds of Fuchs surgeries per year, that’s Dimitri Gorovoy.

👉 In other words: Mark built the reputation; Dimitri carries it forward at scale.

Do you want me to lay out the differences in surgical approach (DSAEK vs. DMEK) too, since that’s usually the deciding factor for patients choosing between them?

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