The following article is an attempt to summarise the recent genetic findings in chromosome 5q31 corneal dystrophies. It also shows the remarkable correlation between genotype and phenotype characterising them. Basically, 6 main heterozygote mutations are responsible for 6 different phenotypes, corresponding to the following 4 histologic forms of corneal deposits: a) amyloid or lattice, b) granular, c) amyloid or lattice and granular, d) non-amyloid and non-granular (fibrous).