{"id":284437,"date":"2026-07-31T13:39:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/?p=284437"},"modified":"2026-07-31T13:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:39:15","slug":"eye-care-could-yellow-eyes-be-serious-causes-symptoms-treatment-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/eye-care-could-yellow-eyes-be-serious-causes-symptoms-treatment-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Yellow Eyes Be Serious? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Guide\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<\/head>

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Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span>

Introduction<\/a><\/li>
What Do Yellow Eyes Mean?<\/a><\/li>
Reasons for Yellow Eyes<\/a><\/li>
Symptoms of Yellow Eyes<\/a><\/li>
Diagnosis of Yellow Eyes<\/a><\/li>
Yellow Eyes Treatment<\/a><\/li>
Home Remedies for Yellow Eyes<\/a><\/li>
When to Consult a Doctor?<\/a><\/li>
Conclusion<\/a><\/li>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><\/li>
References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n \n <\/span>\n $\"Join$ \n <\/a>\n
<\/span>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHave you ever looked in the mirror and wondered,\u00a0Why are my eyes yellow?\u00a0Although a yellowish tint can sometimes be caused by minor eye-surface changes, yellowing of the whites of the eyes can also signal jaundice or another underlying condition that needs medical\u00a0attention 1<\/a><\/sup>. In this article, we discuss what yellow eyes mean, possible causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and when to consult a doctor.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>What Do Yellow Eyes Mean?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Yellow eyes\u00a0refer to\u00a0yellowish\u00a0discolouration\u00a0of the white\u00a0part\u00a0of the eye (the\u00a0sclera). This is\u00a0most often\u00a0due to\u00a0a build-up\u00a0of bilirubin, a yellow pigment\u00a0produced\u00a0when old red blood cells\u00a0break\u00a0down. Normally, the liver\u00a0processes\u00a0bilirubin\u00a0so\u00a0the body\u00a0can remove it.\u00a0If this process is disrupted, bilirubin\u00a0can accumulate\u00a0in the blood, causing the eyes and skin to turn yellow,\u00a0a condition known as jaundice.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important to note that not every yellow-looking eye is caused by jaundice<\/a><\/strong>. Some people may notice a small yellow patch on the eye surface due to a usually harmless condition called a pinguecula\u00a0(a small yellowish growth on the eye surface)2<\/a><\/sup>.\u00a0In addition, long-term or severe eye allergies can also make the eyes look yellow or discoloured by causing changes on the eye\u2019s surface. Unlike jaundice, this does not cause the white part of the eye to become truly yellow.\u00a0However, when the white part of the eye appears yellow overall, jaundice is more likely and should be medically\u00a0evaluated 3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Did You Know?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Yellow eyes do not always mean liver disease; they can occur for several reasons, including blood disorders, bile duct obstruction, medicines, or\u00a0infections 1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Yellow eyes in newborns are common and temporary; about 6 out of 10 experience this\u00a0condition 1<\/a>,4<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Reasons for Yellow Eyes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Yellow eyes can\u00a0result\u00a0from\u00a0several underlying\u00a0causes.\u00a0Common\u00a0reasons\u00a0include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Medications and supplements:<\/strong>\u00a0Taking too much acetaminophen<\/a><\/strong> (paracetamol), using anabolic steroids, or using certain herbal or dietary supplements can injure the liver and lead to jaundice, including yellowing of the\u00a0eyes 5<\/a>,6<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Liver Conditions:<\/strong>\u00a0Conditions that affect the liver, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc., can reduce the liver\u2019s ability to process bilirubin, causing yellow\u00a0eyes1<\/a>,5<\/a><\/sup>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Blocked bile ducts:<\/strong>\u00a0Gallstones, narrowing of the bile ducts, or tumours can block bile flow and prevent bilirubin from draining properly, leading to yellow\u00a0eyes5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Pancreatic Disorders:<\/strong>\u00a0Disorders such as pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer can block the bile duct and cause yellow\u00a0eyes5<\/a>,7<\/a><\/sup>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Inherited Conditions:<\/strong>\u00a0Inherited disorders such as Gilbert syndrome, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, etc., can interfere with bilirubin metabolism, causing bilirubin to build up in the body, resulting in yellowing of the\u00a0eyes8<\/a><\/sup>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Blood Disorders:<\/strong>\u00a0Certain blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, increase the breakdown of red blood cells, causing bilirubin to build up in the body and leading to yellowing of the eyes and\u00a0skin1<\/a>,9<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Symptoms of Yellow Eyes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms that occur with\u00a0yellow eyes\u00a0depend on the underlying cause.\u00a0They\u00a0may\u00a0include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Yellowing of the skin\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Dark-coloured\u00a0urine 5<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Fever<\/a><\/strong>, fatigue or weakness,\u00a0nausea<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or vomiting<\/a><\/strong>, etc. (may be associated with liver or pancreatic conditions)7<\/a>,10<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Swollen abdomen (may result from pancreatitis)7<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Loss of appetite (may be associated with liver disease)10<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Abdominal pain, clay-coloured stools, itching, etc. (may be due to bile duct obstruction)11<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Numbness, swelling of the hands and feet, extreme tiredness, or cough may occur with blood disorders such as sickle cell disease. Severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, or severe weakness require immediate medical\u00a0attention 12<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Feeding problems, light-coloured stools or excessive sleepiness (in babies)4<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>
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