arcus ugliness

[cpschulze]

I am a 62 year old sicilian/polish American woman with a 50% ring of arcus senilas.  I do not want to take "no" for an answer.  The question is, how do I get rid of this really ungly demomation.  At the moment I am on cholesteral lowering drugs, and have been for two years.  Nothing has changed and the ring keeps progressing.  I want to get to the root of the problem but doctors tell me there is nothing to do about it. I will try anything, except contact lenses.  Please send me to an advanced study group.  Thank you CPS

[Sylvie13]

Just read your comments regarding the white arc on the top of your eyes and the subsequent treatment you took with the eye drops.  How are your eyes looking now.  I have the same arc over the top of both my eyes.  My eyes are green/hazel but I am concerned about this.

[Medklem]

I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION!  Did they ever answer you?

[Game21]

You say there is no cure, But if the cause is high cholesterol? Can the progression be stopped? by doing exercise and/or diets? if it's just starting? I'm 21yrs old and overweight, I just recently noticed it on at least 16% of the right eye, The thickness is half or the eye outline, I still see the black outline. Can the progression be stopped. Answer me please.

[pattyhbeth]

Earlier in life, I had a "porcelain gall bladder" which occurs in about 1% of the population. It is a calcified gall bladder. I had normal calcium levels. Now, I have been diagnosed with "arcus senilis" and it is caused by cholesterol deposits. I have normal cholesterol and lipid values. Although there are some hereditary issues, no one in my family has had either condition. Because of my earlier issues with calcium, I understand that these deposits in a person my age is not considered unusual or a sign of hypercholesterolemia. And, just because you have it doesn't mean your children will have it. Also, there is no indication that it is "plaque" or that it will cause an embolus. Currently, there is no treatment for this condition, but it does not interfere with vision, and it is considered normal for people who are over 50.

[pamthecam]

I am age 64 and am very chagrined to see not only white circles in the brown iris of my both my eyes, but now a whitish blur!!!  There must be some help now or in the future!!!  Allmymarbles seems to be giving us the only hope.  Please give us the directions to make your  l-carnosine drops!

We are your grateful eye health community!!!  Let's face it, it is a cosmetic issue for all for us, too!!!

[guswah]

I've read about the implication of cholesterol in arcus for years, ever since I was first diagnosed with the condition.  What's almost laughable for me -- and mildly embarrassing -- is that out of a huge family, I was good-naturedly labelled as a health fanatic because of my insistence on a diet that avoided cholesterol-rich foods in lieu of green salads.  After 40 years of this dietary regime, I'm the only one with arcus.  And I'm the only one who routinely gets low-cholesterol counts.  

Both MDs and ophthalmologists take one look and tell me that my condition is called arcus and that it's caused by a large consumption of cholesterol.  It really does make one wonder about the legitimacy of your comments above and your suggestion that allmymarbles or any other non-professional is somehow mistaken.

[greeneartha]

Thank you for your continued follow-up on this topic.  I am 28 years old and have arcus juvenilis.  I was told by my opthamoligist it is actually micro/macro-pannus...not arcus since my bloodwork resulted in normal cholesterol.  He suggested it was the 15 years of continued contact lense wear!  I am determined to find a way to reverse the discoloration and am infuriated wearing contacts did this to my eyes.  I was never warned by any doctor.

[allmymarbles]

I will return to this subject when I have a second set of pictures taken by the same professional who took the first set. That should be around the first of the year.

[cpschulze]

Thank you for your comments on arcus senilus. I have been watching the development of arcus senilus in my eyes since my 40th birthday.  I have only ever heard that there is nothing that I can do to stop it's progression.  I have seen only 3 people in my life who have had this condition.  Why do I have to have it. Please, if  you  have not seriously looked at some of the research on carotid artery disease or ocular hyotony as well as in lipid metabolism, can you direct me to anyone who is doing work on this.   I find it very scary to think that there is a chance that this plaque can be a source of embolization, leading to strokes.  I have only just started taking 10 mg of CRESTOR  daily for my cholesterol levels which have elevated since menopause.  

[cpschulze]

Thank you for your comments.  However, I have serious worries as how to deal with my arcus senelis, for two reasons.  
The first and foremost is, if this is a genetic condition how should my two sons (who are in their twenties) be proactive.  So far yes they are watching their diet and cholesterol levels.  They both have high cholesterol and have completely different diets. Secondly, what happens to me if this plaque breaks off and travels in my blood stream.  Finally, is not one doing and research on how to cosmeticlly conseal this white ring? Thanks CArole

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No not at all. One case proves nothing, the photos could be doctored. To "prove" that any treatment works requires a prospective, controled, adequately powered (large enough number of cases to prove/disprove hypothesis), masked study.

It is true that in younger people with high blood cholesterol that when medications are used to reduce the problem (statins) that the arcus can reduce or disappear.

JCH MD

[allmymarbles]

If, when I have new photographs taken, the rings are smaller, would you reconsider your opinion?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

There is no cure, the drops mentioned above will not help.  If your cholesterol and triglycerides are okay then its just a normal aging change in the cornea.

JCH MD

[allmymarbles]

If you can't find it, here is the reply I gave.

"There is supposedly no cure for this condition. However, I have been using MSM drops and l-carnosine drops for almost one year (for general eye health) and found, to my surprise, that the blue rings around my eyes are noticeably narrower and darker. Once I noticed that the rings were decreasing in size, I had my optometrist photograph them. I started the treatment last November, but unfortunately did not have them photographed until this past July. When I next see him I hope to be able to have a record of the improvement. I first noticed the rings about 20 years ago. I know that the condition is only cosmetic, but who wants old-people eyes?"

[allmymarbles]

I replied to this under "blue ring around iris," on October 9th, on this forum. Look that up. By the way, although the arcus is made up of cholesterol, it rarely has anything to do with high cholesterol.