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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.

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Arcus senilis".

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