Different genotypes imply several phenotypes, which influence therapeutical proceedings in MCD patients. Our study shows the wide range of diagnostic findings and therapeutical options in patients suffering from macular corneal dystrophy depending on the genotype.

The variable genotypes in patients with TGFBI-linked corneal dystrophies lead to significantly different results after surgical treatment. The Gly623Arg mutation seems to be an optimum genotype on which to perform PTK even in older patients. It is essential to determine the genotype in order to standardize the PTK treatment and to evaluate the success in TGFBI-linked corneal dystrophies.

In comparison of our clinical and histopathological findings and the molecular genetic results we found a strong genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with TGFBI-linked corneal dystrophies. Rare mutations can lead to exceptional clinical and histopathological findings which cannot be classified into the different groups of corneal dystrophies. In our patients with CDB2 we could not find any molecular genetic correlation to the TGFBI gene.