Thursday, November 24, 2016

Why Are My Eyes Yellow?

Eyes are the most beautiful and expressive parts of the body. While the healthy eyes glow and glitter with inner health, ill health generally shows in the eyes. Eyes are a reflection of the inner health of an individual. When you are unwell, your eyes are the first parts of the body that start showing signs and symptoms of fatigue and tiredness.

Yellowish tinge of the eyes is a condition known as icterus. Icterus condition only indicates a yellowish tinge in the eyes whereas jaundice is about yellowish discoloration associated with the entire body.

When the white portion of the eyes starts to get a yellowish tinge, it normally indicates jaundice in the body that occurs due to an underlying medical condition in the body. Jaundice is indicated with a discoloration of the skin and an occurrence of a yellowish tinge on the skin and the white portion of the eyes.

The yellow tinge occurs due to high bilirubin levels in the blood stream which is a prime indicator of jaundice. Bilirubin is a waste substance that is yellow in color and is normally found in the bile juice that is secreted by the liver as it breaks down the fats. Here are some of the main reasons that can cause your eyes to turn yellow in color:

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

The white portion of the eyes is called as the sclera, which is covered by a thin clear tissue known as the conjunctiva. This conjunctiva tissue also forms a protective lining inside the eyelids along with a mesh of tiny tin blood vessels. These tiny blood vessels are extremely fragile and delicate and can easily burst or break with the slightest pressure. When due to some kind of pressure these vessels burst, the blood leak out and settles in between the conjunctiva and the sclera. When the leakage is small eyes could just get a tinge of redness whereas when the leak is large enough, the white part of the eyes suddenly appears completely red and can even bulge out in some cases. A subconjunctival hemorrhage normally appears as a bright spot of blood in the eyes. There is no pain caused by this condition and nor does it cause any changes in the vision, but it does cause certain symptoms like itching in the eyes. The itching sensation is often felt as you blink your eyes.  This condition could be caused by any of the following: a serious trauma, coughing with intense pressure, sneezing hard, vomiting, heavy lifting of weights, intensely rubbing your eyes and other eye infections. In some cases this condition is also a warning signal for other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, bleeding or blood disorders like leukemia and sickle cell disease. In case you have any symptoms associated with this condition it is critical to have your eyes examined by your ophthalmologist examine the hemorrhage to diagnose the cause and rule out any complicated health disorders. The blood spot that is visible in the eyes to the subconjunctival hemorrhage eventually gets reabsorbed by the body. Most of the hemorrhages get resolved within seven days from the occurrence without any major treatment. However a larger subconjunctival hemorrhage, could take about two to three weeks for a complete recovery. The red color will soon turn into a yellowish orange tinge then to pink and finally to white again as the eyes become completely normal. Glycerine or artificial tears could be applied to get rid of the itching feeling.

Hyperbilirubinemia

Hyperbilirubinemia is a medical condition that is characterized by the increased levels of bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance that is found in bile which is a chemical substance in the body that helps in breaking down the fats. Bile juice is released into the small intestines when the fats consumed by the body need to get digested. Bilirubin is normally produced as the liver carries out its function and breaks down the old red blood cells. The bilirubin substance is eventually excreted out of the body through the stools, which is what gives the stools its normal brown color. In case of medical conditions when the liver function is affected, it causes an abnormally high number of red blood cells to be broken down which eventually leads to a quick built up of the bilirubin in the body. Liver disease and malfunctions cause bilirubin levels to rise in the body. Extremely high levels of the bilirubin cause the condition which is referred to as jaundice. The jaundice causes an intense yellowing of the skin and eyes. Doctors normally recommend a number of liver function tests that help in diagnosing the actual cause of the jaundice and to rule our liver diseases. As soon as the cause of excessive bilirubin levels is taken care of the yellowing of eyes and skin gets corrected and disappears.  Liver problems are also caused due to serious drug and alcohol abuse which the conditions are often found difficult to treat. Viral infections occurring due to a hepatitis infection are known to be some of the serious causes of a liver disease.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an uncommonly seen infection which is caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria behind this infection are known as leptospira genus. People suffering from this form of infection develop severe yellowing of the eyes. This infection is more commonly seen in warmer climates and in places wherein people are more exposed to water that is infected by animal urine. Persons suffering from leptospirosis form of infection develop symptoms like coughing, soreness of the throat, headache, and pain in the muscles, stomach and swollen lymph nodes. They eventually lead to other conditions like an enlarged spleen or liver. This condition is however curable and is treated as the person is administered antibiotics that the bacteria is found sensitive to. The condition normally cures completely with the medications.

Yellowing of the eyes is normally an indication of an underlying medical condition. To treat the condition completely it is important to understand the actual cause that results in the symptoms and then have the same treated.
 Eyes are the most beautiful and expressive parts of the body. While the healthy eyes glow and glitter with inner health, ill health generally shows in the eyes. Eyes are a reflection of the inner health of an individual. When you are unwell, your eyes are the first parts of the body that start showing signs and symptoms of fatigue and tiredness.

Yellowish tinge of the eyes is a condition known as icterus. Icterus condition only indicates a yellowish tinge in the eyes whereas jaundice is about yellowish discoloration associated with the entire body.

When the white portion of the eyes starts to get a yellowish tinge, it normally indicates jaundice in the body that occurs due to an underlying medical condition in the body. Jaundice is indicated with a discoloration of the skin and an occurrence of a yellowish tinge on the skin and the white portion of the eyes.

The yellow tinge occurs due to high bilirubin levels in the blood stream which is a prime indicator of jaundice. Bilirubin is a waste substance that is yellow in color and is normally found in the bile juice that is secreted by the liver as it breaks down the fats. Here are some of the main reasons that can cause your eyes to turn yellow in color:

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

The white portion of the eyes is called as the sclera, which is covered by a thin clear tissue known as the conjunctiva. This conjunctiva tissue also forms a protective lining inside the eyelids along with a mesh of tiny tin blood vessels. These tiny blood vessels are extremely fragile and delicate and can easily burst or break with the slightest pressure. When due to some kind of pressure these vessels burst, the blood leak out and settles in between the conjunctiva and the sclera. When the leakage is small eyes could just get a tinge of redness whereas when the leak is large enough, the white part of the eyes suddenly appears completely red and can even bulge out in some cases. A subconjunctival hemorrhage normally appears as a bright spot of blood in the eyes. There is no pain caused by this condition and nor does it cause any changes in the vision, but it does cause certain symptoms like itching in the eyes. The itching sensation is often felt as you blink your eyes.  This condition could be caused by any of the following: a serious trauma, coughing with intense pressure, sneezing hard, vomiting, heavy lifting of weights, intensely rubbing your eyes and other eye infections. In some cases this condition is also a warning signal for other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, bleeding or blood disorders like leukemia and sickle cell disease. In case you have any symptoms associated with this condition it is critical to have your eyes examined by your ophthalmologist examine the hemorrhage to diagnose the cause and rule out any complicated health disorders. The blood spot that is visible in the eyes to the subconjunctival hemorrhage eventually gets reabsorbed by the body. Most of the hemorrhages get resolved within seven days from the occurrence without any major treatment. However a larger subconjunctival hemorrhage, could take about two to three weeks for a complete recovery. The red color will soon turn into a yellowish orange tinge then to pink and finally to white again as the eyes become completely normal. Glycerine or artificial tears could be applied to get rid of the itching feeling.

Hyperbilirubinemia

Hyperbilirubinemia is a medical condition that is characterized by the increased levels of bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance that is found in bile which is a chemical substance in the body that helps in breaking down the fats. Bile juice is released into the small intestines when the fats consumed by the body need to get digested. Bilirubin is normally produced as the liver carries out its function and breaks down the old red blood cells. The bilirubin substance is eventually excreted out of the body through the stools, which is what gives the stools its normal brown color. In case of medical conditions when the liver function is affected, it causes an abnormally high number of red blood cells to be broken down which eventually leads to a quick built up of the bilirubin in the body. Liver disease and malfunctions cause bilirubin levels to rise in the body. Extremely high levels of the bilirubin cause the condition which is referred to as jaundice. The jaundice causes an intense yellowing of the skin and eyes. Doctors normally recommend a number of liver function tests that help in diagnosing the actual cause of the jaundice and to rule our liver diseases. As soon as the cause of excessive bilirubin levels is taken care of the yellowing of eyes and skin gets corrected and disappears.  Liver problems are also caused due to serious drug and alcohol abuse which the conditions are often found difficult to treat. Viral infections occurring due to a hepatitis infection are known to be some of the serious causes of a liver disease.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an uncommonly seen infection which is caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria behind this infection are known as leptospira genus. People suffering from this form of infection develop severe yellowing of the eyes. This infection is more commonly seen in warmer climates and in places wherein people are more exposed to water that is infected by animal urine. Persons suffering from leptospirosis form of infection develop symptoms like coughing, soreness of the throat, headache, and pain in the muscles, stomach and swollen lymph nodes. They eventually lead to other conditions like an enlarged spleen or liver. This condition is however curable and is treated as the person is administered antibiotics that the bacteria is found sensitive to. The condition normally cures completely with the medications.

Yellowing of the eyes is normally an indication of an underlying medical condition. To treat the condition completely it is important to understand the actual cause that results in the symptoms and then have the same treated.