Some People Have Unusual Eyes That Shine “Like Stars”. What Causes This Condition? Can an ordinary person achieve such a gaze?
Image of “starry-eyed” eyes – (Photo: New England Journal of Medicine).
According to ScienceAlert on May 23, eyes that shine “like stars” are seen in individuals suffering from a condition known as asteroid hyalosis (AH). This condition is often age-related, but its specific mechanisms and correlations with other health issues have yet to be thoroughly studied.
Estimates from various studies suggest that 1-2 out of every 100 people are affected by AH. The condition is also observed in dogs.
In Vietnam, AH is referred to as asteroid hyalosis (according to Vinmec), or starry vitreous opacities (according to Saigon Hanoi Eye Hospital).
AH rarely causes vision problems by itself, but it can hinder the diagnosis of other eye diseases.
The condition develops gradually, and many individuals may not even realize they are affected until others notice the bright spots in their eyes.
An example of asteroid hyalosis during an eye examination with an ophthalmoscope – (Source: YouTube).
Scientists explain that these “stars” are due to the accumulation of material, often calcium, in the eye’s vitreous body. As people age, the vitreous may accumulate a type of debris due to infection, inflammation, and hemorrhage, resulting in floating fragments that appear as dark spots in a person’s line of sight.
It can also create other types of debris that may be invisible to the person containing them, but to others, they appear as “sparkling hazes.” Under direct light, these sparkling hazes are cream-colored. However, when examined with a fundus camera, doctors can observe these particles shimmering like gold.
It remains unclear whether AH is associated with other health issues. However, research suggests that AH does not cause infections. Some experts speculate that AH may be linked to vascular issues or cellular regeneration.
Thus, further large-scale randomized clinical trials are needed to gain a better understanding of this condition.
The Eyes Reveal Much The eyes are the only external part of the nervous system, so they can disclose what is occurring inside. In 2022, a machine learning model discovered a way to predict a person’s lifespan simply by examining their retina. In recent years, scientists have been closely observing the eyes to identify signs of rapid aging, pre-Alzheimer’s dementia, or early mortality. |
