title: Corneal dystrophies among patients undergoing keratoplasty in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Diseases leading to corneal opacities are inflammations, infections, metabolic causes, trauma, or genetically determined diseases. Corneal dystrophies may lead to corneal blindness. A clinical and pathological review of 2,108 corneal specimens received from December 1983 to January 1988 revealed 86 (4%) corneal specimens with corneal dystrophies. Fifty-three (62%) patients had macular dystrophy, 11 (13%) had congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED), 12 (14%) had Fuchs' corneal dystrophy, 5 (6%) had lattice corneal dystrophy, and 3 (4%) had granular dystrophy. Macular dystrophy appears to be the most common cause of corneal dystrophy in Saudi Arabia. Twenty-two (42%) patients with macular dystrophy and 10 (91%) patients with CHED were the result of consanguineous marriages. Genetic counseling is advisable among families who carry the trait of CHED or macular corneal dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: al Faran
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Tabbara
mesh_terms: D003241:Consanguinity; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology