Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Corneal Arcus?Arcus SenilisArcus JuvenilisCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to See Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Corneal Arcus?
Arcus Senilis
Arcus Juvenilis
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Perhaps you’ve noticed some people have a gray, white, or bluish circle around all or part of theiriris(the colored part of the eye).
Sometimes referred to as “ring around the pupil,” this condition is known ascorneal arcus. More specifically, it is calledarcus senilisin people in their 60s or older andarcus juvenilisin younger people.
Corneal arcus may appear as an arc above or beneath thecorneaor form a ring around the cornea. While it is often considered benign (harmless), some evidence suggests that it may be predictive of heart disease in younger people.
Afrodriguezg / Wikimedia Commons
This article explains the two types of corneal arcus, their causes, treatment, and when to consult a healthcare provider if you think you might have the condition.
Corneal arcus is a condition common in older adults in which deposits of fats and cholesterol around the outer edge of the iris cause a bluish, whitish, or light-gray ring. Corneal arcus occurs in almost all people above age 80.It happens as a typical part of aging.
There are two types of corneal arcus:arcus senilisandarcus juvenilis.
Corneal arcus is more prevalent in men than in women and in Blacks than in Whites. It becomes more common as all people age.
Historically it was thought that the presence of corneal arcus was a predictor of cardiovascular disease regardless of age; however, current data has disputed this belief.
Colored rings around the iris that begin to appear in childhood or early adulthood are called arcus juvenilis.
A 2015 study showed that corneal arcus is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re under age 40 to 50 years old and notice symptoms of corneal arcus.
Many ophthalmologists tell people under age 50 with corneal arcus to get their blood tested to check for high cholesterol and other lipid-related abnormalities.
What Causes Corneal Arcus
How Is Corneal Arcus Diagnosed?
How Is Corneal Arcus Treated?
Corneal arcus doesn’t affect a person’s vision or cause anything more than cosmetic concerns, so it isn’t treated.
However, if you have corneal arcus and are under 50 years old, or if the ring appears only in one eye, you may have an underlying condition. In this case, you may need a lipid screening to determine if you have high cholesterol and/or high triglyceride levels that require treatment.
If the ring is present only in one eye (unilateral arcus senilis), it may indicate a problem with thecarotid arteryand heart disease.
In these cases, your healthcare provider will work with you to find and treat the underlying condition that’s causing the corneal arcus.
Summary
A condition fittingly named “ring around the pupil” has two different names. It’s known as arcus senilis in people in their 60s and older and arcus juvenilis in younger people. The condition doesn’t cause pain or affect vision, but it could be a risk of heart disease in people younger than 50 years old.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ang M, Wong W, Park J, et al.Corneal arcus is a sign of cardiovascular disease, even in low-risk persons.Am J Ophthalmol.2011;152(5):864-71.e1. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2011.04.014
Munjal A, Kaufman EJ.Arcus senilis. In:StatPearls [Internet].
Schou AL, Mølbak ML, Schnor P, Grønbæk M, Tolstrup JS.Alcohol consumption, smoking and development of visible age-related signs: a prospective cohort study.J Epidemiol Community Health. 2017;71(12):1177-1184. doi:10.1136/jech-2016-208568
Moosavi M, Sareshtedar A, Zarei-Ghanavati S, Zarei-Ghanavati M, Ramezanfar N.Risk factors for senile corneal arcus in patients with acute myocardial infarction.J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2010;5(4):228–231.
American Academy of Opthalmology.What is arcus senilis?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Why are my eyes changing color?
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
