National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Lattice corneal dystrophy type 1


Other Names:
Corneal dystrophy, lattice type 1; CDL1; LCD1
Categories:
Lattice corneal dystrophy type 1 (LCD1) is an eye disorder that affects the cornea, the clear outer covering of the eye. In order to see properly, the cornea must remain clear. In LCD1, a protein, known as amyloid, builds up in a layer of the cornea called the stroma.   Symptoms usually become apparent in childhood or adolescence and may include separation of layers of the cornea (corneal erosions), decreased vision, photosensitivity, and eye pain. LCD1 is caused by mutations in the TGFBI gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Treatment focuses on relieving erosions with antibiotics and bandage contact lenses. If treatment is not successful and erosions become recurrent, phototherapeutic keratectomy to smooth the corneal surface and corneal transplant may be considered.[1][2]
Last updated: 5/13/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Lattice corneal dystrophy 0001149
Progressive visual loss
Progressive loss of vision
Progressive vision loss
Progressive visual impairment
Slowly progressive visual loss
Vision loss, progressive
Visual loss, progressive
[ more ] 		0000529
Recurrent corneal erosions
Recurrent breakdown of clear protective layer of eye
0000495
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
LCD1 is a genetic disorder. It is caused by mutations in the TGFB1 gene. The TGFB1 gene provides instructions for making a protein, called TGFB1, which is found in many tissues of the body, including the cornea. TGFB1 is thought to play a role in the attachment of cells to one another (cell adhesion) and cell movement (migration).[3]
Last updated: 9/6/2016
Lattice corneal dystrophy type 1 is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that having a change (mutation) in only one copy of the responsible gene in each cell is enough to cause features of the condition.

In some cases, an affected person inherits the mutated gene from an affected parent. In other cases, the mutation occurs for the first time in a person with no family history of the condition. This is called a de novo mutation.

When a person with a mutation that causes an autosomal dominant condition has children, each child has a 50% (1 in 2) chance to inherit that mutation.[2]

If you are interested in learning more about the inheritance of lattice corneal dystrophy type 1 and risks for family members, we would recommend consulting with a genetic specialist. Click here to learn more about how to find a genetics clinic. 
Last updated: 5/16/2016
Genetic testing is available for LCD1. Genetic Testing Registry lists the names of laboratories that are performing genetic testing for lattice corneal dystrophy. Most of the laboratories listed through Genetic Testing Registry do not accept direct contact from patients and their families; therefore, if you are interested in learning more, you will need to work with a health care provider or a genetics professional. To view more information on genetic testing for lattice corneal dystrophy type 1, click here.  
Last updated: 5/16/2016

Diagnosis of LCD1 is based on the signs and symptoms.[1] Medscape Reference offers information on the diagnosis of LCD1 as well as the signs and symptoms. To read more, click here. You may need to register to view the article, but registration is free.
Last updated: 9/6/2016
Treatment for lattice corneal dystrophy type 1 (LCD1) depends on the disease severity and the associated symptoms. Patching and soft contact lenses may be recommended for episodes of corneal erosion. Corneal transplant (i.e., penetrating keratoplasty) or phototherapeutic keratectomy may be an option for individuals with recurrent erosions and/or vision loss.[4][1]
Last updated: 5/16/2016

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Lattice corneal dystrophy type 1. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • 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) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Lattice corneal dystrophy type 1. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • I was diagnosed with Fuch's dystrophy many years ago, but I think I may actually have lattice dystrophy. How can I find out for sure? See answer

  • I have lattice corneal dystrophy type 1 and have had light sensitivity and astigmatism for a number of years Over the past 18 months my vision has become much worse. Is any current research going on that relates to lattice corneal dystrophy? Also, have there been any recent articles published in medical journals about this disease? Since there are no other cases of corneal dystrophy in my family, yet this is a genetic disease, I'm additionally interested in finding out more about genetic testing. See answer


  1. Natalie A Afshari, Stuart I Brown. Lattice Corneal Dystrophy. Medscape. Sep 22, 2014; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1193793-overview.
  2. lattice corneal dystrophy type I. Genetics Home Reference. April 2012; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lattice-corneal-dystrophy-type-i.
  3. TGFBI. Genetics Home Reference. April 2012; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TGFBI.
  4. Sugar, J. Stromal Corneal Dystrophies and Ectasias. In: Yanoff et al.,. Yanoff: Ophthalmology, 2nd ed.. St. Louis, MO : Mosby, Inc; 2004;