Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is a rare but severe stromal corneal dystrophy. Macular corneal dystrophy is an IC3D category 1 dystrophy and is an autosomal-recessive condition. It is characterized by multiple irregular gray-white opacities in the corneal stroma that extend out into the peripheral cornea and down to the Descemet membrane.
Corneal dystrophy is defined as a bilateral noninflammatory clouding of the cornea, the clear outer layer of the front of the eye. Corneal dystrophies can be placed into categories based on their location within the cornea and their etiologies, as follows:[1]
Whereas macular corneal dystrophy is now classified as a stromal corneal dystrophy, granular and lattice corneal dystrophies are now classified as epithelial-stromal TGFBI dystrophies owing to their involvement in multiple layers of the cornea.[1] The age of onset for most corneal dystrophies is less than 20 years (exceptions include map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy and Fuchs corneal dystrophy). Patients with macular corneal dystrophy tend to have more severe vision loss earlier than patients with lattice or granular dystrophy; however, macular corneal dystrophy is less common than both lattice and granular dystrophies.
Most corneal dystrophies are inherited in an autosomal-dominant pattern. Exceptions that are autosomal recessive include macular corneal dystrophy and congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) (previously known as autosomal recessive CHED2, differentiated from autosomal dominant CHED1, which has been eliminated owing to its similarity to posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy).[1]
Macular corneal dystrophy, unlike granular corneal dystrophy, has no clear areas between opacities.[2] Opacities usually first appear in adolescence but may become apparent anytime from early infancy to the sixth decade of life. Affected individuals usually experience severe visual impairment before the fifth decade of life once opacities have coalesced and the entire stroma becomes cloudy.[3] Examples of macular dystrophy are shown in the images below.
View Image | Macular dystrophy. Image courtesy of James J. Reidy, MD, FACS, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, State University of New York, School of Medicine .... |
View Image | Macular dystrophy. |
The metabolic defect for macular corneal dystrophy appears to be an error in the synthesis of keratan sulfate, which leads to accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the cornea. Subgroups of macular dystrophy can be identified by immunohistochemical methods. Keratan sulfate was not detected in the serum of patients with histopathologically confirmed macular corneal dystrophy. Because keratan sulfate in the serum appears to be predominantly derived from the normal turnover of cartilage,[4] these studies strongly suggest that the defect in keratan sulfate synthesis in macular corneal dystrophy is not restricted to corneal cells and that this condition is one manifestation of a systemic disorder of keratan sulfate.
United States
Macular corneal dystrophy is uncommon, but areas with the highest prevalence include parts of the United States.
International
Although relatively uncommon, macular corneal dystrophy is most prevalent in India, Saudi Arabia, Iceland, and parts of the United States.[3]
Corneal changes become visible in the first decade of life. A significant reduction in vision usually occurs by age 20-40 years. Patients can develop decreased corneal sensitivity. Eye pain due to recurrent corneal erosions is rare is much less common than in patients with lattice or granular corneal dystrophies.
No sexual predilection has been reported.
Corneal changes become visible in the first decade of life; vision may be significantly reduced by age 20-40 years.
Of all the stromal corneal dystrophies, macular corneal dystrophy results in the earliest visual loss. This visual loss is due to the lack of clear spaces between the denser gray-white macular opacities.
Symptomatic patients are eligible for either excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) when the bulk of the opacity is superficial or, more commonly, corneal transplantation.
In many patients, macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is first visible in the cornea during the first decade of life. Visual acuity decreases over time, and patients develop photosensitivity. They may also experience eye pain from recurrent corneal erosions.
Macular corneal dystrophy is autosomal recessive. The gene responsible for macular dystrophy is CHST6 (carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene), located on chromosome 16.
The metabolic defect for this condition appears to be an error in the synthesis of keratan sulfate, which leads to accumulation of glycosaminoglycan in the cornea. Three variants of macular corneal dystrophy exist based on the immunoreactivity of the macular deposits. Macular corneal dystrophy type I has no keratan sulfate reactivity in the cornea or serum. Macular corneal dystrophy type IA has keratan sulfate reactivity in keratocytes but not in serum. Macular corneal dystrophy type II has keratan sulfate reactivity in the cornea, and the serum has normal or low levels of keratan sulfate.[2]
Macular dystrophy is characterized by multiple irregular gray-white opacities that are present in the corneal stroma and extend into the peripheral cornea. This is in contrast to granular corneal dystrophy, in which the deposits are located centrally. As the gray-white opacities develop in macular corneal dystrophy, a diffuse haze simultaneously progresses to involve the entire corneal stroma. The lack of clear spaces between stromal opacities differentiates macular corneal dystrophy from granular corneal dystrophy, in which there are usually clear zones between opacities.[1] The corneal epithelium is typically unaffected; however, it can develop corneal erosions. In advanced disease, corneal endothelium and the Descemet membrane may be affected.[2]
Macular corneal dystrophy involves the entire thickness of the corneal stroma and is more superficial centrally and deeper peripherally. The central cornea in this condition may be thinned. Significant cornea guttata may be present in severe disease, although endothelial decompensation is very rare.[1]
Complications of macular corneal dystrophy include photophobia, loss of vision, and, less commonly, recurrent corneal erosions.
Corneal biopsy, which is not clinically indicated in patients with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), reveals deposits of glycosaminoglycans, which stain with Alcian blue and colloidal iron.
Deposits in macular dystrophy are composed of glycosaminoglycans, which stain with Alcian blue and colloidal iron.
Light microscopy demonstrates glycosaminoglycan deposits within stromal keratocytes. Thickening of the Descemet membrane can be seen, in addition to guttata.[1]
Two types of macular dystrophy are noted based on the absence or presence of keratan sulfate within the corneal stroma. Corneas affected by macular corneal dystrophy type I lack keratan sulfate, whereas keratan sulfate is present in corneas of patients with macular corneal dystrophy type IA and II.[2]
Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals stromal hyper-reflectivity in areas that correspond to the stromal opacities.
When recurrent corneal erosions occur with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), they are treated like any other form of recurrent corneal erosion. Under the care of an ophthalmologist, frequent application of an antibiotic ointment can be used. Alternatively, bandage contact lens along with topical antibiotics can be prescribed.
Once the acute episode of recurrent corneal erosions has resolved, preventive treatment may include sodium chloride 5% drops (eg, Muro 128) or artificial tear lubricating drops during the day and sodium chloride 5% ointment (eg, Muro 128) or lubricating ointment at bedtime.
Sunglasses are often helpful for severe glare symptoms.
If recurrent corneal erosions occur despite medical therapy, excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) may be considered in early cases of macular corneal dystrophy.[5] The excimer laser removes superficial corneal opacities, smooths the corneal surface, and allows the epithelium to re-adhere more tightly. However, macular corneal dystrophy tends to recur quickly and at a high rate after PTK,[6] making it less suitable for PTK than lattice or granular corneal dystrophy.
If visual acuity worsens and the opacities are deep, lamellar or full-thickness corneal transplantation can be performed. Although the success rate for corneal transplantation is high, macular corneal dystrophy deposits can recur with time and tend to recur at a higher rate in grafts of patients with macular corneal dystrophy than in grafts of patients with lattice or granular corneal dystrophies.[5]
Both deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and full-thickness penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) are viable options for the treatment of macular corneal dystrophy. DALK is associated with a higher risk of recurrence, while PKP is associated with a larger decrease in endothelial cell count and higher rate of graft failure due to endothelial rejection.[7, 8]
The use of fibrin glue in lamellar therapeutic keratectomy for the treatment of anterior corneal opacities has been assessed as safe and effective for attachment. However, the technique needs to be refined for ease and safety.[9]
Patients with epithelial defects from recurrent corneal erosions need to be observed every few days to ensure that defects are healing.
Patients with epithelial defects from recurrent corneal erosions are treated with topical antibiotics to prevent corneal infection.
Medical therapy for recurrent corneal erosions includes hypertonic saline, which is thought to increase adherence of the epithelium to the underlying stroma. Lubrication may also help prevent corneal erosions.
Clinical Context: Used for temporary relief of corneal edema.
This agent dehydrates the epithelium, allowing it to better adhere to the underlying stroma.
Clinical Context: Contains equivalent of 0.9% NaCl and used to maintain ocular tonicity. Acts to stabilize and thicken precorneal tear film and prolong tear film breakup time, which is decreased in dry eye states.
Moistens the ocular surface and decreases the frequency of recurrent erosions.