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Cholesterol rings in the eyes

Q. At my last visit to my eye doctor, he told me that I had a cholesterol ring. What can you tell me about this condition?

A. One of the main goals of a doctor's physical examination is to detect signs of disease. Although ophthalmologists focus on eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, they can also recognize evidence of certain systemic diseases. For instance, both hypertension and diabetes can produce telltale changes in the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye.