Y. Nagaki et al., PRIMARY CORNEA GUTTATA IN JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH CATARACT - SPECULAR MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS, Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology, 40(4), 1996, pp. 520-525
To evaluate the prevalence of primary cornea guttata (the first stage
of Fuchs' dystrophy) in Japanese patients, we retrospectively examined
specular photomicrographs of patients' cataracts. Primary cornea gutt
ata in subjects without corneal inflammation was defined as dark areas
, seen on specular microscopy, and irregular refractile dots, observed
with slit-lamp microscopy. In 107 patients with cataract (211 eyes),
primary cornea guttata was found in 4 women (7 eyes), aged 56 to 76 ye
ars. One eye of patient 4, who had a history of angle-closure glaucoma
and laser iridotomy, had bullous keratopathy. We also examined 16 rel
atives (32 eyes) of these 4 affected patients (probands), and found 2
women (4 eyes) with primary cornea guttata, No hereditary influence wa
s identified. We believe that the incidence of primary cornea guttata
(Fuchs' dystrophy) in Japan is lower than that in North America.