Is heart disease in the eyes? For some people, it just might be.
Studies have shown that higher levels of lipids, or fats, in the
blood can cause some people to develop raised yellow patches of
skin around the eyelids, known as xanthelasma. Generally the
spots are considered a benign cosmetic issue. Though they affect
people of all ages, they are most common in middle age and
later. Last year an Italian researcher reported that he spotted
clear signs of xanthelasma around Mona Lisa’s left eye. But in a
study this year in the journal BMJ, Danish scientists decided to
look at whether these yellow patches could be an indication of
underlying cardiovascular disease, tied to high cholesterol. In
the study, the researchers followed nearly 13,000 adults over
age 30 who were taking part in the Copenhagen City Heart Study.
People who developed the spots, it turned out, were more likely
to have a heart attack or die of heart disease, regardless of
other risk factors, like obesity and cholesterol levels. Over
all, men w