<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<article article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.3" xml:lang="en">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Czech and Slovak Ophthalmology</journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">411</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.31348/2026/4</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group>
          <subject>Original article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Refractive Lensectomy in Patients with Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Brožková</surname>
            <given-names>Markéta</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3901-3362</contrib-id>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Vlasák</surname>
            <given-names>Ondřej</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3075-2573</contrib-id>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Havlíčková</surname>
            <given-names>Lenka</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Hlinomazová</surname>
            <given-names>Zuzana</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4037-2208</contrib-id>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="electronic">
        <day>9</day>
        <month>1</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <issue>4</issue>
      <elocation-id>5</elocation-id>
      <abstract>
        <p>Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of refractive lens exchange (RLE) with implantation of extended depth of focus (EDOF) and trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) in presbyopic hyperopic patients diagnosed with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), and to retrospectively assess preoperative criteria suitable for RLE indication. Materials and Methods: The study included 17 patients (34 eyes) with hyperopia and FECD who underwent RLE with implantation of EDOF or trifocal IOLs at Lexum Eye Clinics between 2022 and 2024. The mean follow-up period was 13 months, and the mean patient age was 56 ±5 years. Evaluated parameters included preoperative and postoperative refraction, visual acuity, endothelial microscopy, central pachymetry, and posterior corneal backscatter. Results: The mean preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity was 0.68 logMAR, improving postoperatively to 0.01 logMAR. The mean corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.01 logMAR preoperatively to -0.01 logMAR postoperatively. Postoperative uncorrected intermediate and near visual acuities were 0.07 logMAR and 0.10 logMAR, respectively. According to Krachmer’s classification of endothelial microscopy, 14 patients had grade 1, one patient grade 2, and two patients grade 3 FECD. The mean postoperative endothelial cell density was 2595 cells/mm², with a coefficient of variation of 30 % and hexagonality of 50 %. No statistically significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative pachymetry values (p = 0.184). The mean posterior corneal backscatter was 14.7 GSU preoperatively and 16.8 GSU postoperatively. Conclusion: Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy has long been considered a contraindication for refractive lens exchange. In our cohort of motivated patients, the outcomes were highly satisfactory. Key parameters – central pachymetry, endothelial microscopy, and posterior corneal backscatter remained stable over time. When properly indicated, carefully performed RLE may be a viable option for presbyopia correction in patients with early-stage FECD.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd>Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy</kwd>
        <kwd>RLE</kwd>
        <kwd>trifocal IOL</kwd>
        <kwd>EDOF IOL</kwd>
        <kwd>endothelial microscopy</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <back>
    <ref-list>
      <title>References</title>
      <ref id="R481">
        <mixed-citation>Blau-Most M, Reitblat O, Levy A, Assia EI, Kleinmann G. Clinical outcomes of presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 16;13(1):786.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R482">
        <mixed-citation>Hamill CE, Schmedt T, Jurkunas U. Fuchs endothelial cornea dystrophy: a review of the genetics behind disease development. Semin Ophthalmol. 2013;28(0):281-286.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R483">
        <mixed-citation>Son HS, Villarreal G, Meng H, Eberhart CG, Jun AS. On the origin of ‘guttae’. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014 Sep;98(9):1308-1310.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R484">
        <mixed-citation>Weiss JS, Rapuano CJ, Seitz B, et al. IC3D Classification of Corneal Dystrophies-Edition 3. Cornea. 2024 Apr;43(4):466.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R485">
        <mixed-citation>Liu S, Sadan AN, Bhattacharyya N, et al. Genetic and demographic determinants of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy risk and severity. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2025 Apr 1;143(4):338-347.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R486">
        <mixed-citation>Gottsch JD, Sundin OH, Liu SH, et al. Inheritance of a novel COL8A2 mutation defines a distinct early-onset subtype of Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Jun;46(6):1934-1939.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R487">
        <mixed-citation>Zhang J, McGhee CNJ, Patel DV. The molecular basis of Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy. Mol Diagn Ther. 2019 Feb;23(1):97- 112.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R488">
        <mixed-citation>Malhotra D, Loganathan SK, Chiu AM, Lukowski CM, Casey JR. Human corneal expression of SLC4A11, a gene mutated in endothelial corneal dystrophies. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 4;9(1):9681.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R489">
        <mixed-citation>Khuc E, Bainer R, Wolf M, et al. Comprehensive characterization of DNA methylation changes in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175112.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R490">
        <mixed-citation>Nakagawa T, Honda T, Yuasa T, et al. The TCF4 gene regulates apoptosis of corneal endothelial cells in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2025 Mar 6;66(3):16.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R491">
        <mixed-citation>Baratz KH, Tosakulwong N, Ryu E, et al. E2-2 protein and Fuchs’s corneal dystrophy. N Engl J Med. 2010 Sep 9;363(11):1016- 1024.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R492">
        <mixed-citation>Rao BS, Ansar S, Arokiasamy T, et al. Analysis of candidate genes ZEB1 and LOXHD1 in late-onset Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy in an Indian cohort. Ophthalmic Genet. 2018 Aug;39(4):443- 449.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R493">
        <mixed-citation>Wesdorp M, Schreur V, Beynon AJ, et al. Further audiovestibular characterization of DFNB77, caused by deleterious variants in LOXHD1, and investigation into the involvement of Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Clin Genet. 2018;94(2):221-231.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R494">
        <mixed-citation>Riazuddin SA, Vasanth S, Katsanis N, Gottsch JD. Mutations in AGBL1 cause dominant late-onset Fuchs corneal dystrophy and alter protein-protein interaction with TCF4. Am J Hum Genet. 2013 Oct 3;93(4):758-764.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R495">
        <mixed-citation>Soh YQ, Kocaba V, Pinto M, Mehta JS. Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and corneal endothelial diseases: East meets West. Eye. 2020 Mar;34(3):427-441.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R496">
        <mixed-citation>Feizi S. Corneal endothelial cell dysfunction: etiologies and management. Ther Adv Ophthalmol. 2018;10:2515841418815802.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R497">
        <mixed-citation>Darlington JK, Adrean SD, Schwab IR. Trends of penetrating keratoplasty in the United States from 1980 to 2004. Ophthalmology. 2006 Dec;113(12):2171-2175.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R498">
        <mixed-citation>Mathews P, Benbow A, Corcoran K, DeMatteo J, Philippy B, Van Meter W. 2022 Eye Banking Statistical Report-Executive Summary. Eye Bank Corneal Transplant Commun. 2023 Sep;2(3):e0008.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R499">
        <mixed-citation>Zoega GM, Fujisawa A, Sasaki H, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for cornea guttata in the Reykjavik Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2006 Apr;113(4):565-569.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R500">
        <mixed-citation>Higa A, Sakai H, Sawaguchi S, et al. Prevalence of and risk factors for cornea guttata in a population-based study in a southwestern island of Japan: the Kumejima study. Arch Ophthalmol (Chicago, Ill. 1960). 2011 Mar;129(3):332-336.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R501">
        <mixed-citation>Kitagawa K, Kojima M, Sasaki H, et al. Prevalence of primary cornea guttata and morphology of corneal endothelium in aging Japanese and Singaporean subjects. Ophthalmic Res. 2002;34(3):135-138.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R502">
        <mixed-citation>Aiello F, Gallo Afflitto G, Ceccarelli F, Cesareo M, Nucci C. Global prevalence of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in adult population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ophthalmol. 2022;2022(1):3091695.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R503">
        <mixed-citation>Liu S, Kandakji L, Stupnicki A, et al. Current applications of artificial intelligence for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: a systematic review. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2025 Jun 6;14(6):12.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R504">
        <mixed-citation>Krachmer JH, Purcell JJ, Young CW, Bucher KD. Corneal endothelial dystrophy: a study of 64 families. Arch Ophthalmol (Chicago, Ill. 1960). 1978 Nov;96(11):2036-2039.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R505">
        <mixed-citation>Nanda GG, Alone DP. Review: current understanding of the pathogenesis of Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy. Mol Vis. 2019;25:295-310.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R506">
        <mixed-citation>Wacker K, McLaren JW, Amin SR, Baratz KH, Patel SV. Corneal high-order aberrations and backscatter in Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy. Ophthalmology. 2015 Aug 1;122(8):1645-1652.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R507">
        <mixed-citation>Sun SY, Wacker K, Baratz KH, Patel SV. Determining subclinical edema in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: revised classification using Scheimpflug tomography for preoperative assessment. Ophthalmology. 2019 Feb 1;126(2):195-204.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R508">
        <mixed-citation>Chu HY, Hsiao CH, Chen PYF, Ma DHK, Chang CJ, Tan HY. Corneal backscatters as an objective index for assessing Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy: a pilot study. J Ophthalmol. 2017;2017(1):8747013.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R509">
        <mixed-citation>Kaup S, Pandey SK. Cataract surgery in patients with Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy. Community Eye Health. 2019;31(104):86- 87.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R510">
        <mixed-citation>Ali M, Cho K, Srikumaran D. Fuchs dystrophy and cataract: diagnosis, evaluation and treatment. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023 Apr 1;12(2):691-704.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R511">
        <mixed-citation>Lee NSY, Ong K. Risk factors for corneal endothelial cell loss after phacoemulsification. Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan 30;14(1):83- 87.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R512">
        <mixed-citation>Okoye GS, Bonabe D, Obasi CU, et al. Visual outcomes and complications after phacoemulsification and small incision manual cataract surgery in two eye hospitals. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2025 Jan;48(1):104353.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
      <ref id="R513">
        <mixed-citation>Fernández J, Sánchez-García A, Rodríguez-Vallejo M, Piñero DP. Systematic review of potential causes of intraocular lens opacification. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2020 Jan;48(1):89-97.</mixed-citation>
      </ref>
    </ref-list>
  </back>
</article>
