Which term is used to describe peripheral corneal opacity caused by lipid deposition near the limbus?

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Multiple Choice

Which term is used to describe peripheral corneal opacity caused by lipid deposition near the limbus?

Arcus refers to a lipid-rich ring that forms a peripheral corneal opacity right around the limbus. It shows up as a gray-white arc at the edge of the cornea, caused by lipid deposition in the deeper corneal layers near the limbal area. The term arcus describes this lipid-related peripheral opacity in general; when it occurs with aging, it’s often called arcus senilis, but arcus on its own is the precise description for the lipid deposit near the limbus. This helps distinguish it from other corneal conditions: pannus is inflammatory tissue with neovascularization, and keratoconus involves thinning and protrusion of the cornea, not lipid deposition. So the description fits arcus because it captures the lipid-associated opacity located peripherally near the limbus.

Arcus refers to a lipid-rich ring that forms a peripheral corneal opacity right around the limbus. It shows up as a gray-white arc at the edge of the cornea, caused by lipid deposition in the deeper corneal layers near the limbal area. The term arcus describes this lipid-related peripheral opacity in general; when it occurs with aging, it’s often called arcus senilis, but arcus on its own is the precise description for the lipid deposit near the limbus. This helps distinguish it from other corneal conditions: pannus is inflammatory tissue with neovascularization, and keratoconus involves thinning and protrusion of the cornea, not lipid deposition. So the description fits arcus because it captures the lipid-associated opacity located peripherally near the limbus.

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