Does your eye show if you have high cholesterol?
Does your eye show if you have high cholesterol?
By: Arlene Gentallan
Look into your eyes in front of a mirror...look closer. If you notice a greyish or bluish ring surrounding your cornea, then you have what we call "arcus senilis." It's actually a lipid deposit at the periphery of your cornea. It may tell a number of things about your health.
Does having arcus senilis normal?
Arcus senilis is normally present among the older population. However, if you develop arcus senilis at an early age, it may be associated with high blood cholesterol levels.
The presence of arcus senilis increases with age. A study has shown that it's presence in men ages 30-39 years old is linked to higher risk of coronary artery disease.
Arcus senilis and cardiovascular diseases
The association of arcus senilis to cardiovascular disease still remains debated. Several studies claims their is a link but others found none.
In a study by Mirnaghi Moosavi, MD, Ahmad Sareshtedar, MD, Siamak Zarei-Ghanavati, MD, et al., they concluded that arcus senilis is "associated with age and hypercholesterolemia in patients with recent acute myocardial infarction."
Arcus senilis and high cholesterol level
Arcus senilis is associated with having high cholesterol level among young people, however it's not a definitive test. If you suspect you have high cholesterol level, please make sure to consult your doctor.
Reference:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3381082/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1438300/
By: Arlene Gentallan
 |
| Does your eye show if you have high cholesterol? |
Look into your eyes in front of a mirror...look closer. If you notice a greyish or bluish ring surrounding your cornea, then you have what we call "arcus senilis." It's actually a lipid deposit at the periphery of your cornea. It may tell a number of things about your health.
Does having arcus senilis normal?
Arcus senilis is normally present among the older population. However, if you develop arcus senilis at an early age, it may be associated with high blood cholesterol levels.
The presence of arcus senilis increases with age. A study has shown that it's presence in men ages 30-39 years old is linked to higher risk of coronary artery disease.
Arcus senilis and cardiovascular diseases
The association of arcus senilis to cardiovascular disease still remains debated. Several studies claims their is a link but others found none.
In a study by Mirnaghi Moosavi, MD, Ahmad Sareshtedar, MD, Siamak Zarei-Ghanavati, MD, et al., they concluded that arcus senilis is "associated with age and hypercholesterolemia in patients with recent acute myocardial infarction."
Arcus senilis and high cholesterol level
Arcus senilis is associated with having high cholesterol level among young people, however it's not a definitive test. If you suspect you have high cholesterol level, please make sure to consult your doctor.
Reference:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3381082/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1438300/
