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Living with Avellino corneal dystrophy

An inherited eye condition in which deposits build up in the cornea, the clear front of the eye.

Understanding Avellino corneal dystrophy

Avellino corneal dystrophy is an inherited eye condition that affects the middle layer of the cornea, the clear front covering of the eye.

It causes small breadcrumb-like deposits and cracked-glass-like lines on the cornea. These can grow larger and spread through the whole middle layer. Some older people have blurry vision from cloudy cornea. Onset is listed as childhood.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Cloudy area in the center of the cornea
  • Breadcrumb-like corneal deposits
  • Reduced clarity of vision
  • Cloudiness in the middle layer of the cornea
  • Cracked-glass-like lines (lattice)
  • Blurred vision (less common)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include eye disease specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in TGFBI are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Corneal Dystrophy Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing for the TGFBI gene confirm the diagnosis?
How often should my corneas be checked?
What options exist if my vision becomes blurry?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant
GenesTGFBI

It is caused by changes in the TGFBI gene. It is autosomal dominant, so a change in one copy of the gene can cause it.

Genetic

Also known as: cda; cgd2; combined granular-lattice corneal dystrophies; combined granular-lattice corneal dystrophy; gcd2; gcdii

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Avellino corneal dystrophyGARD ID 9278 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Avellino corneal dystrophy.

Explore the Avellino corneal dystrophy blog

Explore research for Avellino corneal dystrophy

Explore actively recruiting Avellino corneal dystrophy studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Avellino corneal dystrophy with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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