Diagnosis

Besides testing your vision, your doctor might also have you undergo the following tests to determine whether you have Fuchs' dystrophy:

• Cornea examination and grading. Your doctor will make the diagnosis of Fuchs' dystrophy by examining your eye with an optical microscope (slit lamp) to look for irregular bumps (guttae) on the inside surface of the cornea. He or she will then assess your cornea for swelling and stage your condition.
• Corneal thickness. Your doctor might use a test called corneal pachymetry to measure the thickness of the cornea.
• Corneal tomography. Your doctor might obtain a special photograph of your cornea (tomography) to assess for early signs of swelling in your cornea.
• Corneal cell count. Sometimes your doctor might use a special instrument to record the number, shape and size of the cells that line the back of the cornea. However, this test is not required.