High cholesterol can bring a lot of problems. Usually, people expect symptoms to show up as heart disease, obesity, etc. But did you know high cholesterol symptoms also affect your eyes? Carry on reading to learn how your eyes reveal high cholesterol in your body.
What Are High Cholesterol Symptoms in Eyes?
Blurry vision, dark spots, pain in the eye, and more signs can indicate high cholesterol. Here are some common symptoms that occur:
1. Xanthelasma
The areas around your eyes and nose can turn yellowish due to high cholesterol, a condition known as xanthelasma. These discolored spots might be flat or raised, resulting from cholesterol build-up underneath the skin. It doesn’t affect your vision. You’re more likely to experience this if you’re:
- Overweight
- Smoker
- Diabetic
- Experiencing high blood pressure
2. Arcus Senilis
As high cholesterol levels spread to your cornea, rings appear around your eyes. These rings might be blue, grey, or white in color. Moreover, arcus senilis occurs on the outside of your eye’s front. Hence, the iris might look like it has two colors due to the ring. However, it doesn’t affect your vision.
Keep in mind, though, arcus senilis is not always due to high cholesterol.
3. Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal vein and retinal artery supply blood to our retina. It is a light-sensitive part of our eyes. Nevertheless, the vein or the artery can get blocked. Retinal vein occlusion occurs when the retinal vein is blocked. But if the artery gets blocked, it is called retinal artery occlusion, also named stroke.
Blood and fluid might spill out into the retina after the vein is clogged. As a result, an area of the retina, called the macula, might get swelling. The swollen macula can possibly affect your central vision.
The symptoms of retinal vision occlusion include:
- Blurry vision in the affected eye
- Vision changes in one eye
- Floaters (dark spots or lines affecting your vision)
- Pain in one eye
People who experience glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more are usually vulnerable to this condition. Hence, it is important to keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in check. Otherwise, this condition can result in vision loss.
4. Hollenhorst Plaque
There are also some rare symptoms of high cholesterol that affect your eyes. Sometimes, fibrin or a piece of cholesterol from a larger artery can float toward the artery in your retina. However, this condition can indicate a more serious issue on hand. Older adults are more susceptible to experiencing this condition. Nonetheless, hollenhorst plaque might not cause any symptoms. Hence, you’ll not know you have either unless it causes a blockage.
What Should I Do?
If you notice any of the high cholesterol symptoms around your eyes, you need to schedule a check-up with your doctor. A good diet, exercise, and hydration can help you prevent cholesterol. Eat the required fruits and vegetables. In addition, avoid eating red meat and other foods that increase your cholesterol.
Our expert team at Aqeeq Internal Medicine can help you with preventive care and more. We’re just a few digits away. Call us at 832-786-8195.