Eye examinations are essential to gauge your overall health, including signs of high cholesterol. High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, contributing to the leading cause of death globally.

However, high cholesterol is treatable with the right lifestyle choices, medication, and early detection. Routine eye examinations enable an eye care professional to examine the eyes’ blood vessels and detect early abnormalities that can indicate cholesterol buildup in other parts of the body.

Here’s how to spot high cholesterol through eye examinations.

What is High Cholesterol, and How Does it Affect Your Body?

Cholesterol is a type of fat produced by your liver that helps the body perform specific functions, including building cells and hormones.

However, too much LDL or “bad” cholesterol in your blood may cause fat to deposit in the walls of your arteries, narrowing them, and decreasing blood flow. High levels of LDL cholesterol can change your circulatory system, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Why is detecting high cholesterol necessary?

Detecting high cholesterol is necessary for early intervention and treatment that can help stop the progression of the condition.

Aside from lifestyle changes, medication management, and treatment, detecting high cholesterol can prompt a healthcare professional to evaluate your overall health and provide additional recommendations for reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke.

How Eye Examinations can Detect High Cholesterol?

During a comprehensive eye examination, the eye care professional will examine your eyes’ blood vessels and look for signs of abnormalities that can indicate cholesterol buildup in other parts of the body.

High cholesterol causes yellowish-white fatty deposits to accumulate in the retinal blood vessels, and the build-up is visible in eye exams. The condition is known as “xanthelasma” and can appear as flat or slightly raised growths on eyelids’ skin.

What Happens during an Eye Exam for High Cholesterol?

Your eye care professional will perform a comprehensive eye exam, which includes:.

Visual Acuity Test
Visual Field Test
Slit Lamp Exam
Retinal Exam

The retinal exam gives your eye care professional a view of your retina’s blood vessels, enabling them to identify xanthelasma, a sign of high cholesterol.

If xanthelasma is detected, the eye care professional may suggest you visit a doctor for further evaluation and treatment.

What are Other Signs of High Cholesterol?

Aside from xanthelasma, other physical characteristics that can indicate high cholesterol include:.

Corneal Arcus: A whitish ring that appears on the edge of the cornea, and is caused by cholesterol deposits.
Lipemia Retinalis: A rare condition that appears as milky blood vessels in the retina, often indicating severely high levels of triglycerides.

The Importance of Routine Eye Care for Detecting High Cholesterol

Regular eye examinations are necessary for detecting underlying health problems, such as high cholesterol, before they become more severe.

Adults should have their eyes examined every two years, or more frequently if there’s a pre-existing medical condition or a family history of an eye disease. Children should have their eyes examined every year to ensure proper visual development.

Routine eye care can help with early detection of high cholesterol and prompt your healthcare professional to implement preventative interventions to reduce your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

Conclusion

High cholesterol can disproportionately affect people who are overweight, diabetic, or consume unhealthy diets. Early detection of high cholesterol can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Eye examinations provide an easy and accessible method to detect cholesterol buildup in the body. With routine eye care, you can maintain healthy eyesight and identify any underlying health problems, including high cholesterol, for early intervention and treatment.