MORPHOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF ARCUS SENILIS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLICATIONS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AND THEIR PREVENTION

Abstract

Arkus senilis is a common clinical finding, especially among elderly individuals, characterized by a gray-white arc or ring at the peripheral cornea. While it is often considered a benign and age-related phenomenon, recent studies have drawn attention to its association with cardiovascular diseases. Morphologically, arcus senilis is the result of lipid deposition in the corneal stroma, particularly in the Descemet’s membrane and Bowman's layer. The pattern of deposition forms a circumferential opacity that spares the clear zone around the limbus. Histopathologically, these deposits are primarily composed of cholesterol esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids, suggesting a direct link with systemic lipid metabolism.