Mesmann Corneal Dystrophy

Mesmann's dystrophic epithelioid dystrophy is a rare hereditary disease characterized by a decrease in the elasticity of the endothelium and a violation of its ability to regenerate. Pathology leads to the development of hemorrhage, ulcerative defects and progressive weakness of the cornea. The disease is inherited according to a recessive principle, so it is almost always fatal. Epithelioid corneal dystrophy is recorded in children or adolescence. The cause of the disease is associated with protein defects. When rays are diffraction, light does not pass through the eyes, which leads to reduced visibility and sometimes even blindness. Therefore, once the diagnosis is confirmed, children require regular vision correction with glasses or contact lenses. Corrective devices are used to help a child compensate for problems with peripheral vision and gradually restore vision. These symptoms of the disease can be observed in both newborns and adolescents. The predicted survival rate is only 0.03%, i.e. about 3 years after the first symptoms appear. Unfortunately, we cannot talk about any rehabilitation measures, but preventive recommendations should be strictly followed. The causes of the disease may include factors such as medications, gene mutations, liver and kidney dysfunction, or microtrauma during surgery on the cornea. The incidence of dystrophy ranges from 1% to 4% among newborn children and reaches another 0.8% at the age of 15-16 years. The lifetime incidence of pathology in children of preschool and school age is 2%. It is known that high mortality in corneal dystrophy is due to the atypical distribution of hemoglobin in the endothelium and a decrease in the ability of blood vessels to form collaterals. As a result, serious disorders of the blood vessels of the eyeball occur, causing destructive changes in the lens and decreased vision up to complete blindness.