Overview
The clear front of the eye clouds or swells.
Vision is often worse in the morning.
Symptoms
Common signs:
- Blurry morning vision
- Cloudy or dim vision, or glare and halos at night
Less common
- Glare
Look up a symptom: Blurry vision
When to get medical care
Call 911Sudden vision loss, a curtain over vision, or a painful red eye with vision changes: go to the ER.
Get care todayNew or worse symptoms, or symptoms with fever.
See a doctor soonSymptoms that last or keep coming back.
Causes
Genes.
Does it spread or run in families?
- It isn't contagious. You can't catch it from someone else.
Who is more likely to get it
- Over 50
Diagnosis
A clinician asks about your symptoms and may order tests.
The exam
A physical exam.
Tests
Tests, if needed:
- Eye exam:
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause and how severe it is.
Self-care
- Use a hair dryer at arm's length on the eyes in the morning
- Use a hair dryer at arm's length to dry eye surface in the morning
Which doctor treats this
- Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
- They may send you to an optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye doctor).
Children, pregnancy, and older adults
- Adults over 50: Fuchs is most common.
- Women: More common.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
- Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
- Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
- Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.
Outlook
Transplant restores vision.
Getting ready for your visit
Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.
What to bring
- A list of your medicines and supplements
- Notes on when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse
Questions to ask
- What's causing this?
- What treatment do you recommend?
Research studies
Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Corneal dystrophy and swelling (Fuchs and others)
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-12.