PART TWO

Remember the guy in our previous post who said he had cataract but later was informed it was arcus juvenilis? It brings us to the question below.

WHAT IS CORNEAL ARCUS?

Corneal Arcus is a whitish-grey ring around the black part of the eye that occurs due to lipids or fat deposits (mainly cholesterol) that form in the outer parts of the cornea (the transparent part that covers the black part of the eyes). This condition is named arcus juvenilis (“juvenilis” referring to youth) if the person diagnosed with it is under 40 years old and arcus senilis (“senilis”referring to old age) if the person diagnosed with this condition is greater than 40. Arcus senilis occurs as a part of aging. Arcus senilis is a normal part of aging, while arcus juveniles could indicate other underlying health conditions.

HOW IS THIS CONDITION DIFFERENT FROM CATARACT?

Understandably, arcus senilis/juveniles could be mistaken for cataracts since they both affect the black part of the eyes; however, they are not the same. Cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye, and this lens is responsible for getting rays of light to focus on the retina. Surgery is the solution to treat cataract, and arcus senilis does not require surgery. It is generally age-related and does not necessarily have any other symptoms that may affect vision.

WHO GETS CORNEAL ARCUS?

Anyone who lives long enough can develop arcus senilis because it is age-related. Research has proven that corneal arcus is more prominent in black people than white people, and the rates of developing this condition are higher in males than females.

Your guess is as good as mine; close attention should be to corneal arcus in young and aged people. If you notice any difference in your eyes, visit your Optometrist at TREETOP VISION EYE CENTER (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako Abuja.

We will stop here for today; stay tuned as we bring you more facts on corneal arcus in our next post.

TREVEC CARES!!!