You may know that high cholesterol levels can affect your heart. But many people don’t realize that your eyes can also show signs of high cholesterol before other symptoms appear.
Problems with the tiny, delicate blood vessels in your eyes, often related to systemic conditions, are a key part of diagnosing and managing eye disease.
The close connection between your eyes and your general health means that eye exams can serve as a window into your cardiovascular wellness. High cholesterol can cause vision problems by contributing to plaque buildup in the very blood vessels that nourish your eyes. A comprehensive eye exam is a valuable tool that allows us to see these changes directly.
The Connection Between Cholesterol & Your Eyes
How Plaque Buildup Affects Vision
High cholesterol in your bloodstream can cause a waxy substance called plaque to build up along the walls of your arteries. When these deposits form in the blood vessels of your eyes, this can cause narrowing and restrict vital blood flow. Reduced circulation can directly impact your sight, sometimes leading to noticeable changes in your vision.
Blood Flow & Eye Health
Your eyes are complex and depend on a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to function at their best. The retina and optic nerve, in particular, need this steady flow to process light, create images, and send that information to your brain. Any blockage or reduction in circulation can deprive these important structures of the nutrients they need to work correctly.
Signs of High Cholesterol in Your Eyes
Changes You Might Notice
Some physical signs related to high cholesterol are subtle and can only be detected by a doctor during an eye exam. Other signs are more apparent and may appear on or around your eyes, serving as visible clues. You might notice:
- Blurry vision that seems to come and go without a clear reason
- Yellowish, slightly raised bumps of fat on or around your eyelids—a condition known as xanthelasma
- A gray, white, or yellowish ring that forms around the outer edge of your cornea—called arcus senilis
Potential for More Serious Conditions
In some situations, a small piece of plaque can break away from a larger deposit elsewhere in your body and travel through your bloodstream. If that plaque fragment gets stuck in one of the tiny arteries of your retina, it can cause a sudden blockage. This event—known as a retinal vessel occlusion—is a serious condition that can lead to sudden and sometimes lasting vision loss, and it requires immediate medical attention.
How an Eye Doctor Can Spot Cholesterol Issues
A Clear View of Your Blood Vessels
During a routine comprehensive eye exam, we get a direct, magnified view of the blood vessels in the back of your eye. This is one of the few places in the human body where we can observe blood vessels and circulation without any invasive procedures, which is why your eyes can serve as early indicators of systemic health conditions.
What We Look for During an Exam
As your eye doctor in Huntington Beach, we’re trained to spot the subtle signs that systemic health issues can leave behind in the eye. By carefully examining your retina, optic nerve, and the surrounding blood vessels, we look for issues like tiny cholesterol deposits called Hollenhorst plaques or signs of blockages. These findings can point to an underlying health concern that may need further attention from your primary care doctor.
Protect Your Eyesight & Your Health
The Role of Lifestyle Choices
While genetics can influence eyesight, taking proactive steps to manage your cholesterol levels through a balanced diet and regular physical activity benefits your entire body. These healthy habits help maintain clear blood flow to every organ—including the delicate and complex structures of your eyes. Just as quitting smoking can protect your eyes, protecting your overall circulation is another powerful way to help protect your precious vision from damage.
Does Lower Your Cholesterol Help Eyesight?
When you actively work to lower your cholesterol through lifestyle changes or with the help of your physician, you can reduce the risk of future plaque buildup in your arteries. This proactive approach helps protect the small blood vessels in your eyes from potential blockages.
Your Partner in Preventative Eye Care
A Team Approach to Your Wellness
We see your eye health as an integral part of your complete wellness. The information we gather during an eye exam can provide valuable insights into your systemic health, acting as an early detection system. We can then work in collaboration with your primary care provider, sharing our findings to help build a comprehensive understanding of your health.
The Value of Regular Eye Exams
Annual eye health examinations are a cornerstone of any proactive health routine, going far beyond just checking for changes in your prescription. Scheduling an appointment with an eye doctor in Huntington Beach is a simple yet powerful step you can take for your well-being.
Your eyes offer important clues about what’s happening in the rest of your body. A comprehensive eye exam does more than determine if you need glasses; it’s a check-up for your ocular health and can be an early indicator for other health concerns like high cholesterol. Taking care of your vision is a key part of taking care of your whole self.
Visit Total Vision Huntington Beach
Our team at Total Vision Huntington Beach is dedicated to providing you and your family with thorough and thoughtful eye care. We believe in a proactive approach to your health, and we’re here to be your partner in that journey.
Contact us today to schedule your next eye exam and take an important step for your vision and wellness.
