Effect of Descemet Membrane Polishing in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the leading indication for corneal transplantation worldwide. It is characterized by the accumulation of guttae and progressive loss of corneal endothelial cells, leading to corneal edema and visual impairment. Endothelial keratoplasty remains the standard treatment; however, graft shortages have driven the development of cell-based therapies involving the injection of cultured endothelial cells. A key unresolved issue is whether removal of the pathological endothelium prior to injection improves cell adhesion. Clinical data are limited and sometimes contradictory, particularly regarding endothelial polishing. The actual effectiveness of this procedure in removing guttae and enhancing the survival of injected cells remains uncertain. Therefore, an in vivo clinical evaluation is required to assess its impact on guttae removal.

NCT Number	NCT07539012
Lead Sponsor	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
Conditions	Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Enrollment	20 participants
Start Date	2026-05-21
Primary Completion	2027-03-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-03-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-26