'Silent killer' condition symptoms could be spotted with warning sign in eye

In some cases it can trigger a "painless" symptom in one eye - here's what you need to know

An unusual warning sign of high cholesterol may manifest in one of your eyes. This symptom could indicate that you have too much cholesterol in your blood, putting you at increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Around two in five adults throughout the UK are thought to have high cholesterol levels. This "silent killer" can cause arteries to harden and narrow, blocking normal blood flow.

As a result, it poses a major risk factor for various medical emergencies and health problems. Often, it shows no symptoms, making it especially dangerous.

However, in some cases, it may cause a specific symptom that affects one eye. The Cleveland Clinic has noted that high cholesterol could lead to retinal vein occlusion (RVO), a condition characterised by "painless" vision blurring or loss of sight in one eye.

This occurs when a blood clot obstructs the vein, sometimes due to overly narrowed blood vessels in the eye. The clinic explains that RVO is more likely to develop in individuals with diabetes and possibly those with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or other conditions that affect blood flow.

RVO symptoms can range from subtle to more obvious. The clinic explains: "There is painless blurring or loss of vision. It almost always happens in just one eye."

Initially, the visual impairment or sight loss may be slight, although it typically worsens over the subsequent hours or days. Sometimes, there might be an immediate and complete loss of vision.

While it's not possible to unblock retinal veins, doctors can treat some of the related health complications. The clinic states: "Vision may come back in some eyes that have had a retinal vein occlusion."

Around one third of patients will experience some recovery, another third remain stable, and the remaining third show gradual improvement. Roughly one third of patients see some enhancement, another third stay unaltered, and the final third progressively get better.

Nevertheless, it can take a year or longer to be certain. Treatment options include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, focused laser therapy, and pan-retinal photocoagulation treatment.

There are two other less well-known indicators of raised cholesterol that can impact the eyes.

Corneal arcus

Corneal arcus appears as a grey or white arc that shows up across the eye, located just above and below the outer edge of the cornea. Writing for the Mayo Clinic, cardiac specialist Francisco Lopez-Jimenez states: "Eventually, the arc may become a complete ring around the iris. The iris is the coloured portion of the eye."

He also notes that this condition doesn't affect vision or require medical treatment. Nevertheless, the appearance of such marks should prompt a visit to your GP.

Xanthelasmas

Xanthelasmas are benign yellowish deposits that may develop on or around the eyelid corners closest to the nose. According to the Cleveland Clinic: "Cholesterol deposits build up under your skin to form a xanthelasma."

For people with concerns about their cholesterol levels, consulting a GP is the recommended course of action.