๐ What is Schnyder Crystalline Corneal Dystrophy (SCCD)?
Schnyder Crystalline Corneal Dystrophy (SCCD) is a rare genetic disorder
in which sparkling, needle-like cholesterol or lipid crystals
accumulate in the central cornea, often creating a shimmering appearance.
๐ Features
- Autosomal dominant inheritance, but sporadic cases can occur
- Crystals are composed of cholesterol or lipids,
deposited in the subepithelial or anterior stromal layer - Appearance is often described as ring-shaped or needle-like
๐งฌ Cause
- Lipids from the bloodstream may enter the cornea,
and due to defective lipid metabolism,
they accumulate extracellularly and are not broken down - Once thought to be due to systemic lipid issues,
it's now believed to result from local corneal lipid metabolism defects - Lipid panel testing is recommended
๐ Symptoms & Treatment
- Most cases are asymptomatic or show slowly progressive vision loss
- In rare cases with severe vision impairment,
superficial or full-thickness corneal transplantation may be needed
โ Summary
- Rare genetic corneal dystrophy
- Shimmering, crystal-like opacities in central cornea
- Slow progression, minimal vision impact
- Treatment rarely needed, but monitor lipid levels
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