Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

In which parts of the eye can crystals of uric acid be observed through a slit lamp examination?

1. Cornea, sclera

2. Retina, choroid

3. Lens, vitreous humor

4. Iris, anterior chamber

The correct answer is: Cornea, sclera

The presence of uric acid crystals in the eye is primarily associated with a condition known as gout. These crystals can become deposited in various ocular structures, most commonly the cornea and sclera. During a slit lamp examination, which is a vital tool for examining anterior segment anatomy, these deposits can appear as fine needle-like or needle-shaped crystals. The cornea and sclera's exposure to the tear film and their proximity to the blood supply facilitates the deposition of these crystals, which might be due to increased levels of uric acid in the bloodstream from metabolic disorders. The appearance of these crystals in the cornea can lead to corneal deposits visible during slit lamp evaluation. The other mentioned parts of the eye, such as the retina, choroid, lens, vitreous humor, iris, and anterior chamber, do not typically display uric acid crystals during examination. While there may be pathological changes in these structures in various conditions, uric acid crystals are specifically noted in the cornea and sclera due to the reasons outlined.