What's the relationship between arcus senilis and high cholesterol?

Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.

Arcus senilis is a gray or white arc that appears in the eye above and below the outer cornea. The cornea is the clear, domelike covering over the front of the eye. Eventually, the arc may become a complete ring around the iris. The iris is the colored portion of the eye.

Arcus senilis is common in older adults. It's caused by fatty deposits deep in the edge of the cornea. Arcus senilis doesn't affect vision. It also doesn't need treatment.

When arcus senilis occurs in older adults, it isn't related to high cholesterol. However, an arc or ring around the iris sometimes occurs in younger people who have familial hyperlipidemia. Familial hyperlipidemia is a disorder that is passed down through families. It causes very high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. In people with familial hyperlipidemia, this arc or ring typically occurs before age 45 and is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

With

Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

July 08, 2023 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Birth control pill FAQ
  2. Cholesterol concerns? Get moving
  3. Cholesterol concerns? Lose excess pounds
  4. Cholesterol level: Can it be too low?
  5. Cholesterol medications: Consider the options
  6. Cholesterol ratio or non-HDL cholesterol: Which is most important?
  7. Cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate?
  8. Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers
  9. Cholesterol-lowering supplements may be helpful
  10. Coconut oil: Can it cure hypothyroidism?
  11. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  12. Prickly pear cactus
  13. Eggs and cholesterol
  14. Eggs: Bad for cholesterol?
  15. Fasting diet: Can it improve my heart health?
  16. Five foods to lower your cholesterol
  17. Flaxseed best when ground
  18. Hashimoto's disease
  19. HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol
  20. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  21. High cholesterol
  22. High cholesterol in children
  23. High cholesterol treatment: Does cinnamon lower cholesterol?
  24. Hypothyroidism: Can calcium supplements interfere with treatment?
  25. Hypothyroidism diet
  26. Hypothyroidism and joint pain?
  27. Hypothyroidism: Should I take iodine supplements?
  28. Hypothyroidism symptoms: Can hypothyroidism cause eye problems?
  29. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
  30. Is your diet hurting your heart?
  31. Lowering Triglycerides
  32. Menus for heart-healthy eating
  33. Metabolic syndrome
  34. Niacin overdose: What are the symptoms?
  35. Niacin to improve cholesterol numbers
  36. Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health
  37. Is there a risk of rhabdomyolysis from statins?
  38. Soy: Does it reduce cholesterol?
  39. Soy: Does it worsen hypothyroidism?
  40. Statin side effects
  41. Statins
  42. Statins: Do they cause ALS?
  43. Statins: Should you be on one?
  44. Lifestyle changes to improve cholesterol
  45. Trans fat: A double whammy
  46. Trans fat
  47. Trans fat substitutes: Not a slam dunk
  48. Triglycerides: Why do they matter?
  49. VLDL cholesterol: Is it harmful?