The relationship between coronary risk factors of cholesterol, triglycerid and fasting blood sugar and rate of corneal arcus

Background: With the ever increasing incidence of coronary artery disease, its detection in particular through visual system becomes important. This study examines the relationship between corneal arcus and coronary risk factors such as cholesterol, triglycerid and fasting blood sugar.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 265 participants all aged over 30 years were randomly selected from the patients who referred to a clinic over the first three months of 2004. Cholesterol, triglycerid and fasting blood sugar level was tested. Severity of corneal arcus was determined. The data were then analyzed using ANOVA and Chi square test with %95 confidence interval.

Results: Our results showed that the frequency and severity of corneal arcus were positively correlated with age (P=0.041) and the condition was more prevalent in males (P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between mean of cholesterol and blood sugar level and how severe corneal arcus (cholesterol P=0.004, blood sugar P=0.04). But the condition was not related to the triglyceride level (P=0.268).

Conclusion: Corneal arcus picked up in eye exams can aid detection of coronary artery disease as the condition is related to other health problems such as high cholesterol and  high fasting blood sugar level.