Mum with under eye lumps told she had familial hypercholesterolemia
Dr Chris reveals how eyes can indicate high cholesterol levels
“I was unaware of what they were at first until a friend, who was a dermatologist, told me,” Abby told Newsweek. The mum discovered the lesions were pockets of cholesterol, due to an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. “When they were smaller, it did not affect me as much,” said Abby. “But when they started to grow, it then bothered me.”
In 2022, she went to see an oculoplastic surgeon who specialises in reconstructive surgery around the eyes.
“When seeing him, I was told I had the most severe case of xanthelasmas he has ever seen,” Abby revealed.
Xanthelasma
Dr Colin Tidy explained the “yellow flat plaques” can develop over the upper or lower eyelids.
Once the plaque is established, the lesion either remains the same size or grows larger, but it “does not regress”.
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Familial hypercholesterolemia
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) clarified that familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by a genetic mutation.
The genetic mutation prohibits the liver from removing excess cholesterol from the body successfully.
“This means the LDL [low-density lipoprotein] level in your blood can get too high,” the BHF notes.
“Having FH means you’re at risk of getting heart and circulatory disease at an early age if it’s not treated.”
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Affecting about one in every 250 people, Abby is one of many who suffer from the hereditary condition.
Speaking about her lumps, Abby said: “Because of the shape and wideness of them, it’s making it very hard for [the surgeon] to go and do the surgery that he normally does.
“The last time I had them removed was April 2018, but they have since come back and are larger since then. Now they’re the largest that have been.”
Dr Jessica Lattman, an oculoplastic surgeon, warned of a proposed alternative treatment.
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“One of the biggest misconceptions about xanthelasmas is that they can be treated with a laser or some kind of topical treatment,” said Dr Lattman.
“This is absolutely false. That may not be what you want to hear, but if you take the ‘easy way’ with just the laser, you may end up with scarring and more problems.”
Dr Lattman confirmed: “The only way to remove them is to surgically excise them, and that really has to be done by somebody who really understands the eyelid.
“On the lower lid, it’s really important to be able to assess how much skin you can take without causing the lower lid to get pulled down or distorted.”
While Abby is waiting to undergo further surgery, she’s concerned about the cost.
“I am also worried about spending all this money and then having the potential of them coming back,” she said.
You can follow Abby’s surgical experience on social media under the TikTok handle @abbythebadassmom.
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