Yellow spots around the eyes may signal an increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Scientists have found that yellowish cholesterol deposits around the eyes, known as xanthelasma, are associated with a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke and may be an early external sign of vascular problems.

TodayPress TV reports that the findings of the study were published in the journal Atherosclerosis.

Xanthelasma are soft, yellowish plaques that develop on the skin of the eyelids. These deposits form when macrophages, cells of the immune system, become overloaded with cholesterol and fats. Doctors have long suspected that such deposits on the face may reflect similar processes occurring in the walls of the arteries. However, large-scale data on the issue have been limited.

Researchers led by Negin Yavari of Stanford University’s Department of Ophthalmology analysed the medical records of 17,925 people with xanthelasma and compared them with those of an equal number of people without the condition. The control group consisted of patients with age-related hyperopia. Participants were followed for up to 10 years.

The study found that just one year after diagnosis, 1% of people with xanthelasma had suffered a heart attack, compared with 0.35% in the control group. Stroke rates were 0.95% and 0.3%, respectively, while transient ischemic attack (TIA, or “mini-stroke”) rates were 0.6% and 0.19%. The increased risk persisted over both five- and 10-year follow-up periods.

According to the authors, xanthelasma is a visible and readily identifiable sign that doctors can detect during a routine examination. This could prompt timely evaluation of a patient’s cardiovascular health.

However, the yellowish plaques themselves are not dangerous and do not require urgent removal. The main concern is that they may indicate underlying atherosclerosis. Scientists stress that having xanthelasma does not necessarily mean that a person will suffer a heart attack. However, the sign provides a reason to check cholesterol levels and assess the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study authors also noted that the association was observed even in people whose levels were formally within the normal range. Therefore, yellow plaques on the eyelids should be viewed not merely as a cosmetic defect, but as an independent warning sign.

Xanthelasma is more commonly observed in people with impaired lipid metabolism. However, it can also occur in some people with normal cholesterol levels. This does not eliminate the need for a medical evaluation.