Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD) is an inherited eye disease affecting humans and dogs. The disease characterized by progressive diffuse cloudiness of the cornea and the presence of grayish-white spots in the superficial corneal stroma. The disease is caused by a mutation in the CHST6 gene which causes abnormal accumulation of complex carbohydrates called glycosaminoglycans in the cornea, mainly in the keratocytes and the corneal epithelium.
Clinical symptoms are usually seen in affected middle aged dogs, and include: Visual impairment, corneal cloudiness, grey-white spots of various sizes on the cornea, blood vessels maybe seen across the corneal surface, increased intensity of the corneal cloudiness and loss of visual acuity.
This mutation has only been reported in Labrador Retrievers, but may be found in Labrador-cross breeds.
Treatment: in dogs there is no treatment. In human, this is treated by corneal transplant.
