Universal Test
Universal Test provides safe and reliable results, helping protect vision.
About Corneal Dystrophy
Corneal dystrophy is a common ophthalmic genetic disease caused by genetic mutations. With certain types of corneal dystrophy, various forms of grayish-white proteins accumulate as the cornea heals after damage. This leads to reduced eyesight and the loss of vision in extreme cases.
Five Types of Corneal Dystrophy
Corneal dystrophy can be classified by the type and location of the genetic mutation and the form of accumulated proteins. Among them, granular corneal dystrophy type 1, granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (Avellino corneal dystrophy), lattice corneal dystrophy type 1, Reis-Bücklers’ corneal dystrophy, and Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy are the five most common types of corneal dystrophy.
Prevalence of Corneal Dystrophy
Among the five types of corneal dystrophies, it has been reported in the medical community that the prevalence of granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (Avellino corneal dystrophy) in South Korea is approximately 1 per 870. When converting this to the number within the domestic population, this translates to approximately 57,000 corneal dystrophy patients in South Korea.
Age of Onset
Corneal dystrophy usually manifests between childhood and young adulthood; however symptoms can appear late in one’s thirties due to genetic and environmental differences. In addition, the correlation between the disease and the age of onset is hard to predict as the age of onset varies widely even within families with the same genetic mutation.
In asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with genetic mutations related to corneal dystrophy it may be difficult to detect these conditions even with an examination and undergoing tests such as a slit lamp test.