plaque in retina

i have a question re plaque in the retina...my husband had some blurring in the eye eventually eye dr said it was plaque...he had a carotid u/s and cardiac echo...everything was normal...his cholesterol was 257 and his ldl was 150...he was put on asa and lipitor....he is only 48 yrs old    what would cause this if he had no cholesterol plaque in his carotid arteries or valves? is it just small pieces of cholesterol from his blood lodging in his retina?...what other causes could it be and should he have any other tests....i am afraid of a stroke or heart attack from this symptom in his eye....
                                   thank you for your time

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

ozark,

Thanks for the post.

Q1:"what would cause this if he had no cholesterol plaque in his carotid arteries or valves?"

A normal carotid u/s does not mean that plaque is not present in he arteries.  We know from autopsy studies of young american soldiers killed by trauma in Vietnam that almost all 20 yo americans have at least the beginnings of plaque.

Q2:"is it just small pieces of cholesterol from his blood lodging in his retina"

Probably not.  Cholesterol does not freely flow in the arteries.

Q3:"what other causes could it be and should he have any other tests"

I'm not sure of other causes without seeing your husband, but please pursue a relationship with the doctor so that your husband gets regular follow-up.

Hope that helps.

[hbp702]

Wouldn't evidence from Vietnam only speak about most 20 year old males, as there was not many (if any) females serving in that war?

Do most 20 year old women have plaque too? That would be even more chilling. Heck the idea that people who aren't even full adults having degenerative disease is extremely disturbing.

Most 20 year olds don't even have any risk factors or so I thought. Especially back then. We were much healthier as a nation back then. Medicine can often make you live longer, but less often make you live better.

[the lords servant]

The question was posted in regards to a MALE.That is why she got a answer from a study regarding young MALES.