Gonadectomy or sham surgery was performed in Slc4a11<sup>-/-</sup> and Slc4a11<sup>+/+</sup> mice at 4 weeks of age with subsequent longitudinal CCT and body weight monitoring, followed by an analysis of the interaction effect of surgery type, sex and genotype on CCT.<h4>Results</h4>Male sex is associated with increased CCT, and thus more severe corneal edema, the characteristic clinical feature of CHED, in affected individuals and Slc4a11<sup>-/-</sup> mice. This evidence concerns the gene SLC4A11 and congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy of cornea.