Is asteroid hyalosis ocular gout?

In 76 cases of asteroid hyalosis, seven (9.2%) had gout, eight (10.5%) had close relatives with gout, and two (2.6%) were in both categories. Three of the gouty seven were receiving gout medications. Serum uric acid measurements were elevated in 28.3% of the 46 cases (60.5%) measured. In the 68 monocular cases (89.5%), whites (57 cases) showed no right/left predilection, but blacks (11 cases) had 100% left eye involvement (P less than .001). From a review of 49,000 records, prevalence rates were calculated for discrete age and sex groups. Females under age 60 had no asteroid hyalosis. After age 60 they had a constant prevalence rate of one case per 600 (0.15%). Males of all ages had a higher prevalence rate than females, increasing with age to one per 126 (0.79%) in the 80-or-older group. In all 76 patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1.45:1. Among whites it was, 1.74:1, and among blacks, 0.63:1.