Lattice Corneal Dystrophy

ABSTRACT

Lattice corneal dystrophy, a bilateral familial disease with dominant inheritance pattern s characterized clinically by a latticework of filaments and fine nodular opacities with sparing of the peripheral two or three mm of the cornea. The filaments are in the superficial stroma, with the nodular opacities located in both subepithelial and superficial stromal area. In the advanced cases the lines become centrally more confluent and the cornea in this area is quite hazy. The earliest appearance of the dystrophy in affected individuals is usually at the end of the first decade. Many affected individuals develop marked visual impairment by 40 years of age. Corneal sensation is considerably decreased or lost over the central area but as a rule it remains normal in the clear peripheral. It is now considered by many to be a hereditary form of primary localized amyloidosis. The only effective treatment is corneal transplantation. A 52 year old Korean woman has been found to have bilateral lattice dystrophy of the cornea.