2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
4 Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors
Part I: Ophthalmic Pathology
Chapter 10: Vitreous
Degenerations
Asteroid Hyalosis
Asteroid hyalosis is a condition with a dramatic clinical appearance (see Fig 17-12 in BCSC Section 12, Retina and Vitreous) but little clinical significance. Histologically, asteroid bodies are rounded structures measuring 10–100 nm, typically attached to vitreous fibrils (Fig 10-11). The bodies are basophilic with hematoxylin-eosin stain. They are usually positive with stains for calcium such as alizarin red and von Kossa. Occasionally, they will be surrounded by a foreign body giant cell reaction, but the condition is not generally associated with vitreous inflammation.
Studies have shown that asteroid bodies are composed of complex lipids and also have a component with structural and elemental similarity to hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate complex.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 4 - Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.