Your browser does not support javascript:   Search for gard here,  Search for news-and-events here.

Recursos en español
ORDR Home Help FAQ Contact Us

Diseases

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)

Print friendly version

Meesmann corneal dystrophy

Other Names for this Disease
  • Corneal dystrophy, juvenile epithelial of Meesmann
  • Juvenile hereditary epithelial dystrophy
  • Meesman dystrophy
  • Meesmann corneal epithelial dystrophy
More Names
See Disclaimer regarding information on this site. Some links on this page may take you to organizations outside of the National Institutes of Health.

Overview


Meesmann corneal dystrophy is a rare genetic condition affecting the epithelial membrane of the cornea. A slit-lamp examination of the cornea shows diffuse clusters of tiny round cysts in the epithelial membrane.  Overtime these cysts can rupture and cause erosions. The erosions may result in light sensitivity, redness, and pain. Vision remains good in most cases. Meesmann corneal dystrophy can be caused by mutations in the KRT3 or KRT12 gene. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. 

Click here to view an image of the eye which includes an illustration of the epithelial membrane of the cornea.

References

  1. Corneal Dystrophies. In: Traboulsi EI. Genetic Diseases of the Eye. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1998.
  2. KRT12. Genetic Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene=krt12. Accessed July 30, 2009.
Your Questions Answered
by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

1 question(s) from the public on Meesmann corneal dystrophy have been answered. See questions and answers. You can also submit a new question.
On this page

General Information

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Meesmann corneal dystrophy. Click on the link to go to GHR and review the information.
  • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
  • The National Eye Institute (NEI) was established by Congress in 1968 to protect and prolong the vision of the American people. Click on the link to view information on this topic. 
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.  Access to this database is free of charge.  Click on the link to read information on this topic.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Meesmann corneal dystrophy. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
  • The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Meesmann corneal dystrophy. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.

Diagrams/Images

  • A diagram of the eye can be found by visiting MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine Web site designed to help you research your health questions. Click on MedlinePlus to view the diagram.