Asteroid Hyalosis

Got a nice shot of some asteroid hyalosis today: Technically AH is a form of "vitreous degeneration" known to happen in many mammals. It's cause is unknown, possibly hereditary, possibly diet-related, possibly systemic disease-related...studies are as of yet inconclusive. We do know that it is for the most part benign and symptomless. One would think the patient would see "floaters", and some of them do, but from my experience *MOST* of them do *NOT* see floaters and have no symptoms at all. The patient in the above photo has 20/20 vision and literally no symptoms, not even floaters, despite the macula being totally obscured by debris. The reflectile debris is thought to be some combination of calcium and lipid, although the exact makeup is unknown as far as I know. AH mostly occurs in only one eye, for reasons that are again unknown. It's not very common, approx 0.2% of healthy patients under 55 have it according to one study. No treatment is necessary in the vast majority of cases. In extreme cases where vision is affected, a vitrectomy can be performed, but again most people do not need this. I jokingly call it "Goldschläger Eye", as the reflectile bodies have this appearance

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