Understanding Telomeres
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, which hold our genetic material. Similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces, telomeres prevent chromosomes from fraying and becoming shorter. When they become too short, cells can no longer divide, leading to cell death or dysfunction.
Telomeres and Corneal Health
The cornea is unique among ocular tissues because it has the shortest telomeres. In patients with FECD, the telomeres of corneal endothelial cells are even shorter than those in individuals without the disease. This accelerated telomere shortening contributes to the premature aging and loss of CECs, leading to the symptoms of FECD.
Linking FECD and Telomeres
One of the hallmarks of FECD is short telomeres; this results in premature (patients are often in their 40’s) loss of endothelial cells in the cornea, causing them to deteriorate faster than usual. This contributes to the loss of endothelial cells and the buildup of fluid in the cornea.
Telomere research gained significant attention after the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine highlighted its importance. Studies have shown that short telomeres destabilize chromosomes, causing cell death and potentially triggering nearby cells to follow a similar pathway.
Understanding Fuchs’ Dystrophy
Addressing Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Through Telomere Science
TelomEye’s approach to FECD is different. Rather than waiting for vision to significanly decline and then perform transplant surgery then, our approach is to slow or prevent the loss of CECs by preventing telomere shortening and, thereby promoting cell stability.
