Supplementary Material for: A CASE REPORT OF SUCCESSFUL CATARACT SURGERY IN THEIL-BEHNKE CORNEAL DYSTROPHY: A VISUAL REHABILITATION FOR THE PATIENT

Introduction
Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy is a rare inherited condition characterized by symmetrical subepithelial corneal opacities that gradually reduce vision. It is an autosomal dominant inherited epithelial stromal TGFB1 dystrophy that mainly causes visual impairment.
Case Presentation
This case report describes case of a woman in her early 50s with progressive vision loss in her left eye over the past three months with a history of recurrent corneal erosions in childhood. Examination on a slit lamp showed corneal dystrophy affecting both eyes, matching the features of Thiel-Behnke dystrophy. Diagnosis was confirmed with Anterior Segment - Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT), revealing a distinctive sawtooth pattern in Bowman's layer. The patient was managed conservatively for her dystrophy and was also surgically treated for her cataract in the left eye which showed a significant improvement in her vision.
Conclusion
Despite its rarity, Thiel-Behnke dystrophy along with cataract can severely impair vision, making early diagnosis and continuous monitoring crucial for preventing further visual decline.