Arcus senilis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ICD-10 | H18.4 | |
---|---|---|
ICD-9 | 371.41 | |
OMIM | 107800 | |
DiseasesDB | 17120 | |
MeSH | C11.204.299.070 |
Arcus senilis (or Arcus senilis corneae. Latin: senile bow) is a peripheral corneal opacity caused by a deposition of phospholipid and cholesterol granules in the corneal stroma (or substantia propria).
It typically appears bilaterally and symmetrically as a partial or complete whitish arc highly visible over the iris. It is most often found in the elderly, hence the name.
It can be a sign of disturbance in lipid metabolism, an indicator of conditions such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia or hyperlipidemia.
A unilateral arcus is a sign of carotid artery disease or ocular hypotony.
In younger individuals the condition is called Arcus juvenilis.