About 19 years ago I went to upgrade a pair of glasses at a Pearle Vision Center in New Jersey. During a routine eye exam the ophthalmologist named Flanders noticed my cornea had an odd texture to it. After prodding and poking both eyes with a strong light he told me he thought I had Fuch's Dystrophy. I knew he was right - my mother has it and it is genetic. This was an impressive diagnosis from an ophthalmologist in a chain store.
Later that week I went to an eye specialist and told him Flanders diagnosis. He laughed and kind of rolled his eyes like the Pearle Vision guy was clueless. He doubted I had Fuch's first because of my age, then because I was a male. At the time they thought it was a female dominated condition but it is not, it's genetic so males are equally affected - females tend to live longer than men so it is seen more in females.
At now at the point where my vision is hazy in the morning, on rainy days, humid days or after swimming. I'm also sensitive to light, glare and my eyes almost always burn to a degree. Sometimes it feels like I have sand in my eyes, pain can be moderate at times. Over the last 2 decades things have progressed and my condition is starting to give me discomfort and more pain. I’m not at the eruption stage where the condition causes sharp pain but things are progressing.
I have read about a patient using medical marijuana to ease the pain during these eruptions. I was wondering how long I should wait before considering using medical marijuana? My doctor is old fashioned and straight laced so I’m guessing he would be opposed to a natural approach. He did say he would perform a corneal transplant but I’d rather wait as long as I can before getting knifed.
I‘m not a current smoker but I am considering medical use in the future. If anyone has information on Fuch’s Corneal Dystrophy and the benefits of medical marijuana please post.
What is Fuch's Dystrophy?
Hazy vision
Fluctuating vision - worse upon waking, improving as the day goes on
Glare
Light sensitivity
Watery eyes
Burning eyes
Decreased depth perception
Foreign object sensations (feels like sand or grit in the eyes)
Sharp pains in the eyes
Fuch's dystrophy is a disease of the cornea in which the inner lining of the cornea (endothelium) changes structure and function and results in swelling, pain and loss of vision. Although the cause of Fuch's dystrophy is unknown, there is a hereditary component (dominant trait, mostly affecting females) and the disease usually starts in the patient's 40s and progresses over the course of 25 years or so.
Usually both eyes are affected and early in the disease process there is the formation of "drop-like" particles on the endothelium in the absence of swelling. In the middle portion of the disease there is corneal swelling, in which the cornea thickens to about twice its normal thickness, and the patient experiences halos around lights, glare problems and blurred vision. The patient may complain of a foreign body sensation in the eyes, small corneal ulcers or blisters and pain.
The final stage of the disease process involves the further deterioration of the cornea, significantly reduced vision and possible growth of blood vessels in the side of the cornea, although the pain sensation decreases. Treatment sometimes starts with techniques to dry-out the cornea as well as the decreasing of the humidity in the environment, lubricants, occlusion or/and a soft contact lens bandage. Finally, penetrating keratoplasty is usually the treatment that provides the most relief for the patient. In penetrating keratoplasty a large section of the cornea is transplanted.
Later that week I went to an eye specialist and told him Flanders diagnosis. He laughed and kind of rolled his eyes like the Pearle Vision guy was clueless. He doubted I had Fuch's first because of my age, then because I was a male. At the time they thought it was a female dominated condition but it is not, it's genetic so males are equally affected - females tend to live longer than men so it is seen more in females.
At now at the point where my vision is hazy in the morning, on rainy days, humid days or after swimming. I'm also sensitive to light, glare and my eyes almost always burn to a degree. Sometimes it feels like I have sand in my eyes, pain can be moderate at times. Over the last 2 decades things have progressed and my condition is starting to give me discomfort and more pain. I’m not at the eruption stage where the condition causes sharp pain but things are progressing.
I have read about a patient using medical marijuana to ease the pain during these eruptions. I was wondering how long I should wait before considering using medical marijuana? My doctor is old fashioned and straight laced so I’m guessing he would be opposed to a natural approach. He did say he would perform a corneal transplant but I’d rather wait as long as I can before getting knifed.
I‘m not a current smoker but I am considering medical use in the future. If anyone has information on Fuch’s Corneal Dystrophy and the benefits of medical marijuana please post.
What is Fuch's Dystrophy?
Hazy vision
Fluctuating vision - worse upon waking, improving as the day goes on
Glare
Light sensitivity
Watery eyes
Burning eyes
Decreased depth perception
Foreign object sensations (feels like sand or grit in the eyes)
Sharp pains in the eyes
Fuch's dystrophy is a disease of the cornea in which the inner lining of the cornea (endothelium) changes structure and function and results in swelling, pain and loss of vision. Although the cause of Fuch's dystrophy is unknown, there is a hereditary component (dominant trait, mostly affecting females) and the disease usually starts in the patient's 40s and progresses over the course of 25 years or so.
Usually both eyes are affected and early in the disease process there is the formation of "drop-like" particles on the endothelium in the absence of swelling. In the middle portion of the disease there is corneal swelling, in which the cornea thickens to about twice its normal thickness, and the patient experiences halos around lights, glare problems and blurred vision. The patient may complain of a foreign body sensation in the eyes, small corneal ulcers or blisters and pain.
The final stage of the disease process involves the further deterioration of the cornea, significantly reduced vision and possible growth of blood vessels in the side of the cornea, although the pain sensation decreases. Treatment sometimes starts with techniques to dry-out the cornea as well as the decreasing of the humidity in the environment, lubricants, occlusion or/and a soft contact lens bandage. Finally, penetrating keratoplasty is usually the treatment that provides the most relief for the patient. In penetrating keratoplasty a large section of the cornea is transplanted.
