Impact of asteroid hyalosis on internal higher-order aberrations in eyes with cataract accompanied by acoustic shadows on swept-source optical coherence tomography examination.

Increased internal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) have been reported in eyes with asteroid hyalosis, which is usually asymptomatic. This report describes 2 patients with cataract and concurrent asteroid hyalosis. In the first case, internal HOAs were within the normal range, and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) did not show acoustic shadows. After cataract surgery, visual acuity improved and internal HOAs remained within normal limits. However, in the second case, SS-OCT revealed multiple acoustic shadows, presumably due to asteroid hyalosis, and internal HOAs increased in both eyes. After combined vitrectomy and cataract surgery, visual acuity and the internal HOA values improved in both eyes, and acoustic shadows disappeared on SS-OCT. Phacovitrectomy should be considered if the cause of visual impairment is cataract and asteroid hyalosis. Objective assessment of internal HOAs by a wavefront sensor and checking for acoustic shadows on SS-OCT might be useful in detecting this combination of ophthalmic conditions.