OCT useful for diagnosing macular pathology in asteroid hyalosis patients

Optical coherence tomography can be “critical” in diagnosing macular conditions in eyes with poor visualization due to asteroid hyalosis, according to a study.

Stanley Chang, MD, and colleagues at Columbia University’s Department of Ophthalmology performed optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in seven eyes of seven asteroid hyalosis patients after fluorescein angiography and B-scan ultrasonography had “failed to provide diagnostic clarity” in two patients, according to the study.

“OCT provided definitive anatomical diagnoses that included macular epiretinal membrane, macular hole, traction retinal detachment, cystoid macular edema and drusen,” the authors said, noting three patients chose surgery because of their diagnosis.

The study was published in the August issue of Retina.