Clinical Manifestation of Asteroid Hyalosis

ABSTRACT

We investigated fifteen men and twenty one women, who were diagnosed to have asteroid hyalosis between June, 1997 and November, 1997 at Seoul National University Hospital. After obtaining their medical history a complete eye examination was performed. Specimen was examined by light microscope in one case. Funduscopic examination revealed bilateral involvement in 5 cases. Twenty six patients were diabetic and 12 were hypertensive. There was a significant association with diabetes. Light microscopic exam showed variable sized spherical structures with brown rim. Further decrease in visual acuity due to asteroid hyalosis was not observed in 35 cases in which follow-up exams were possible. In conclusion, asteroid hyalosis rarely caused visual loss and were likely to be monocular and to occur in old age.