What Is Eye Plaque?

Eye plaque is a form of cholesterol deposit that can form on arteries in the human eye. Hollenhorst plaque means the same thing as eye plaque; they are interchangeable terms according the Handbook of Ocular Disease Management.

Causes

• Common causes for the formation of eye plaque include hypertension, diabetes, arterial disease, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis.

Effects

• Eye plaque has the potential to cause partial to full vision loss in the affected eye.

Identification

• Eye plaque may not always visibly apparent to the patient and discovery of it during an eye exam will cause your doctor to mention it. A dilated retina can indicate the presence of eye plaque says the Handbook of Ocular Disease Management.

Prevention

• To help prevent eye plaque from forming, make sure to have regular eye exams, along with a healthy diet and hygiene routine.

Considerations

• The Handbook of Ocular Disease Management says that the formation of eye plaque can indicate other, possibly serious health problems. Make sure to speak with your physician if you notice any irregular changes to your health.