Fuchs Dystrophy

Prevention and Treatment of Fuchs Dystrophy

diet, nutrition, self-help & research on alternative treatment

MSM eyedrops and eyedrops without mercury compounds or anticholinerics may help ease the symptoms of Fuch's Dystrophy and preserve vision.

Read reports of positive results with natural treatments.
Review information on nutritional recommendations.
Review self help and prevention tips.

Fuch's dystrophy occurs when the thin layer of cells lining the inside of tiny capillaries and lymph vessels in the eye (endothelial cells) deteriorates without obvious cause, such as trauma or inflammation. As cells are lost over the years, the cornea becomes less efficient at pumping water out of the stroma. This causes the cornea to swell and to distort vision, finally resulting in pain and severe visual impairment.

Epithelial swelling damages vision in two ways:

changing the cornea's normal curvature, and
causing a sight-impairing haze to appear in the tissue.

Epithelial swelling will also produce tiny blisters on the corneal surface. When the blisters burst, they are extremely painful.

The cornea is comprised of 3 layers of tissue as follows:

Epithelium: The cornea's outermost region, comprising about 10 percent of the tissue's thickness, is filled with thousands of tiny nerve endings that make the cornea extremely sensitive to pain when rubbed or scratched.
Stroma: Located behind the epithelium, the stroma comprises about 90 percent of the cornea and gives the cornea strength, elasticity, and form; and nourishing cells.
Endothelium: This single layer of cells, containing is located between the stroma and the aqueous humor and pumps excess water out of the stroma. Without this pumping action, the stroma would swell with water, become hazy, and ultimately opaque.

Symptoms

At first, a person with Fuch's dystrophy will awaken with blurred vision that will gradually clear during the day. This occurs because the cornea is normally thicker in the morning, and it retains fluids during sleep that evaporate in the tear film while we are awake. But as the disease worsens, this swelling will remain constant and reduce vision throughout the day.

Nutritional Supplements for Fuch's Dystrophy

These are the most important supplements and recommendations for fuchs.

Shopping Tips

On a tight budget?

Here's our single most important recommendation:
Doctor's Choice: Ortho K Daytime Homeopathic Eye Drops - Ortho K Daytime Homeopathic Eye Drops

Essential: Ortho K Daytime Homeopathic Eye Drops - Ortho K Daytime Homeopathic Eye Drops

Essential: Ortho K Night+Time Homeopathic Eyedrops - Ortho-K Nighttime Treatment Eye Drops:

Essential: MSM Eyedrops 1 oz (30ml) - MSM softens eye tissues, equalizes pressure, repairs damaged membranes, and helps tissues be able to absorb nutrients for better vision.

Very Important: Advanced Eye and Vision Support Formula - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision (whole food) Support Formula - 60 vcaps per bottle Promotes clear vision and healthy eyes, including macula, retina and lens, supports healthy eye growth, and rejuvenation, and supports the body's natural detoxification processes with targeted, quality antioxidants for vision.

Very Important: VIVA-Drops (10ml - .33 oz. bottle) - VIVA-Eyedrops is the only ophthalmic lubricant for dry eyes without preservatives, mercury compounds or anticholinergics

Very Important: Carlsons Finest Fish Oil Omega 3 200 ml / 500ml option - Omega-3 200ml or 500ml per bottle - Natural Lemon Flavor This fish oil is very mild and pleasant tasting with a lemony flavor made from fish at the bottom of the food chain with lower risk of mercury, pesticide and other contaminents

Important: MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) Capsules - MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) 1000 mg 120 vcapsules

Helpful: Can-C Eyedrops - Can-C Eyedrops - ON MANUFACTURER BACK ORDER UNTIL 8/1/2012

In the meantime, please check out same formulation by other US manufacturers as follows:

Causes

Free radicals can damage the eyes. They are formed when the ultraviolet and blue light of sunlight passes through the crystalline lens. Free radicals are also natural byproducts of metabolism. These highly reactive chemicals cause oxidation, and can destabilize healthy cells in the back of the eyes. Free radical damage is accelerated by smoking, chronic fatigue, and having a compromised immune system.
Nutritional Deficiencies and poor digestion - Often sufferers of macular degeneration are deficient in a number of the nutrients that are essential to eye health: essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavenoids, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-complex.
Heredity

Conventional Treatment

Conventionally, doctors will first try to reduce swelling with soft contact lenses or ointments. They may also instruct a person to use a hair dryer directed across the face at arm's length, to dry out the epithelial blisters two or three times per day.

But when the disease makes visual distortion severe, a corneal transplant is possible. The short-term success rate of corneal transplantation is quite good for people with Fuch's dystrophy. But, some studies do suggest that the long-term survival of the donor cornea can be a problem.

Self Help

Diet & Nutrition

Wear UV protective glasses See research
Make sure to eat lots of green leafy vegetables.
Limit or eliminate sugar and/or artificial sweeteners: Consumption of too much sugar a day has been linked to dry eyes generally. A single can of soda contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar and it is hidden in most processed and refined foods including cereals, salad dressings, condiments.
Avoid the toxic fats in commercial red meat, dairy products, fried foods and hydrogenated oils (such as margarine and shortening). These fats interfere with the proper metabolism of essential fatty acids in the body.
Eat organic whenever possible. Note: "Natural" is not the same as organic!
Limit coffee consumption
Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.
Avoid any foods you may be allergic to. Try cutting out categories of foods for a week at a time, and see how you feel, or visit an allergist for testing. Typical allergenic foods include nightshades (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, white potatoes and cucumbers), milk, wheat, and corn (or products with corn in it).
Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as Dr. Grossman's Whole Food Multivitamin and/or a good green drink such as Renewal Greens.

Lifestyle

Eliminate smoking
Check your medications for any side effects. Work with your doctor.
Gently massage upper and lower lids, a couple of times a day to stimulate the tear glands.

Studies

See research on Fuch's

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