The Mayo Clinic explains: “Arcus senilis is a grey, or white, arc visible above and below the outer part of the cornea — the clear, dome-like covering over the front of the eye.
“Eventually, the arc may become a complete ring around the coloured portion (iris) of your eye.”
Fat deposits deep in the edge of the cornea leads to arcus senilis, but it is a fairly common feature of older age.
Anybody presenting signs of xanthelasma or arcus senilis might have an inherited cholesterol condition.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) touched on familial hypercholesterolaemia, which affects around 250,000 Britons.
BHF Chair of Cardiovascular Genetics at University College London, Professor Steve Humphries spoke on the subject matter.
Familial hypercholesterolaemia is a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol from birth.
“Studies have shown that the risk of developing coronary heart disease is up to 13 times higher in people with untreated familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH),” said Professor Humphries.
There are three “classic signs” of FH, two of which have been touched upon.
- Yellow cholesterol build-up around the eyelids
- Pale ring around the iris of the eye
- Cholesterol deposits around the knuckles or Achilles tendon.
If a close male relative has had a heart attack before the age of 55, or before 65 in a female relative, then you can ask your doctor to test your cholesterol levels.
The BHF says: “It is important to identify FH as early in life as possible, so that you can get treatment and support.”
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