Corneal Arcus

Corneal Arcus

Clinical Features

  • Very common bilateral gray, white, or yellowish circumferential deposits in the peripheral cornea
  • Lucid area usually present between the deposits and the limbus
  • May be found either as an age-related condition (arcus senilis) or in association with hyperlipoproteinemia types 2 and 3 in younger people.
  • Younger-aged male patients (<40 year old) with corneal arcus have increased relative risk of death from coronary artery or cardiovascular disease.
  • The presence of corneal arcus in patients younger than 40 year-old warrants evaluation for systemic lipid abnormalities.