Increased Incidence of Asteroid Hyalosis in Bilaterial Macular Telangiectasia Type II Patients.

Abstract

Purpose: Investigate the relationship between Bilateral Macular Telangiectasia Type II (MacTel) and Asteroid Hyalosis (AH) and identify the factors that influence this correlation.

Methods: A retrospective review utilizing the Retina Consultants of Alabama database from January 2016 to February 28, 2024 was conducted. The charts of 321 patients with retinal telangiectasias were assessed, and 143 were excluded. They were further partitioned into those with AH+MacTel (n=16) versus MacTel only (n=162). The incidence was determined and compared to population-based AH studies with similar patient demographics. Demographic and ocular data were collected and compared between the AH+MacTel and MacTel only groups.

Results: AH was more prevalent in our MacTel cohort (9.88%) compared to Beaver Dam (1.20%, p<.001), Blue Mountains (1.01%, p<0.001), UCLA Autopsy (1.96%, p<.001), and Gutenberg Health studies (0.477%, p<0.001). An inverse link was found between AH+MacTel patients and posterior vitreous detachments (p<0.045 univariate, p<0.025 multivariate). AH+MacTel patients presented fewer ocular conditions (1.79±1.12) than MacTel only patients (2.31±1.11) and significantly lower OCT Central Subfield Thickness (224±43.0 μm) versus MacTel alone (249±49.6 μm; unadjusted mean difference: -25 μm, 95% CI: -45.3 to -4.76).

Conclusion: There was a statistically significantly higher prevalence of patients with AH who also had a diagnosis of MacTel compared to the general population.