arcus senilis
Noun: A whitish, grayish, or bluish opaque ring or arc-shaped deposit of lipids (cholesterol and related compounds) that forms around the outer edge of the cornea of the eye. It is a common age-related change but can sometimes be associated with elevated blood cholesterol levels in younger individuals.
Arcus senilis is a medical term used primarily in ophthalmology and general medicine. It describes a specific physical finding during an eye examination. - It is typically considered a benign sign of aging when it occurs in older adults (over 60). - When it appears in a person under the age of 40 or 50, it may be referred to as arcus juvenilis and can be a marker for hyperlipidemia (high blood fats), warranting further medical evaluation.
- Noun:
- The optometrist noted the presence of a mild arcus senilis in both eyes, which was consistent with the patient's age.
- Although arcus senilis itself does not affect vision, its early onset prompted the doctor to order a lipid profile test.
- Clinical Significance: The term is used to document an objective finding. A note might read: "Physical exam remarkable for bilateral ."
- Differential Diagnosis: In medical discussion, it may be contrasted with other corneal rings or deposits, such as a Kayser-Fleischer ring (associated with Wilson's disease).
- Arcus juvenilis (n): The term for a corneal arcus occurring in a younger individual, often implying a possible association with dyslipidemia.
- Corneal arcus (n): A more general term that is synonymous with but does not carry the specific connotation of aging ().
- Corneal arcus: The most direct synonym.
- Arcus lipoides: A less common synonym emphasizing the fatty (lipid) composition of the deposit.
Arcus senilis has one primary medical meaning. It is not used idiomatically or in common figurative language. The phrase itself is Latin, meaning "senile arc" or "arch of old age."
- a whitish deposit in the shape of an arc that is sometimes seen in the cornea