Skip to main content

plaque

Vessel Wall Deposit

Plain-language definition

Buildup of cholesterol, calcium, or inflammatory material in a vessel wall. Plaques can break loose and travel to retinal arteries, causing sudden vision loss.

Where this term comes up

Category
Condition, finding, or disease process
Also written as
plaques

Pathology terms describe diseases, tissue changes, exam findings, or complications that can affect vision or eye comfort.

Related glossary terms

A note on medical context

A glossary definition can explain a word, but it cannot tell you whether a symptom or test result is serious. If this term came from an article, use the full article and your clinician's guidance for context.