Yellow Eyes

Every person wants to look refreshed and bright-eyed. However, sometimes things happen that causes yellow eyes, making them look tired or sickly.

For instance, allergies can be a culprit. If someone has seasonal allergies to mold, mildew, weeds, trees, etc, then it would not be surprising if they experienced discoloration of the eyes. The good news is that in a case such as this, there are a number of options to reduce the yellow eyes. A person could use over-the-counter eye drops or if necessary, talk to a doctor about prescription medication or even allergy shots.

Another reason for yellow eyes could be far more serious. Whenever the liver is not functioning properly, the eyes will turn a distinct yellow color, as well as the skin. Obviously, if someone notices the whites of the eyes turning yellow, they should immediately talk to a doctor.

It might be something like an infection but it could be a sign that the liver is non-functioning or having a difficult time functioning normally. With an exam and blood tests, a problem with the liver could be ruled in or out.

Then, babies are often born with jaundice, also related to the liver. With this, the liver has not fully developed so the results are yellow eyes. Usually, this would occur while the parent and baby were still in the hospital but it could show up several days after arriving home.

If a parent notices their newborn has yellow eyes, they need to take the child to the doctor immediately. The treatment for jaundice is placing the baby under heat lamps for a few days, which lowers the level of bilirubin in the blood. Typically, this treatment only takes a couple of days and if treated right away, there is no harm to the baby and the yellow eyes become white again.