How to get rid of yellow eyes depends on the cause, because the yellow color is a symptom, not a disease. When the whites of both eyes turn yellow, it is usually jaundice, which needs a doctor and blood tests. A yellow bump or patch on one part of the eye is often a pinguecula, which an eye exam can confirm. Irritation from these growths is often eased with the same care used for dry eyes.
What Causes Yellow Eyes?
Yellow eyes are usually caused by jaundice, a buildup of a yellow pigment called bilirubin in the blood. Your body makes bilirubin when it breaks down old red blood cells, and a healthy liver clears it into bile. When that process is disrupted, bilirubin can stain the whites of the eyes (the sclera) and the skin. Less often, the yellow color comes from the surface of the eye itself. Common causes include:
- Liver disease, such as viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver damage
- Blocked bile ducts from gallstones, inflammation, or a tumor
- Hemolysis, when red blood cells break down faster than normal
- Gilbert syndrome, a harmless inherited condition
- Some medicines, or taking too much acetaminophen
- Eye-surface growths, such as a pinguecula or pterygium
Because these causes are so different, the right treatment always depends on a proper diagnosis.
Are Yellow Eyes a Sign of Liver Problems?
Yellow eyes can be a sign of liver problems, but the liver is not the only possible cause. Doctors often group jaundice by where the problem starts. Before the liver, too many red blood cells may break down at once, as with some types of anemia. Inside the liver, viral hepatitis, heavy alcohol use, autoimmune disease, or certain medicines can injure liver cells. After the liver, gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, or tumors of the pancreas can block bile from draining.
A milder cause is Gilbert syndrome, an inherited condition in which the liver processes bilirubin less efficiently. It is considered harmless and usually needs no treatment, though illness, fasting, dehydration, stress, or hard exercise can make the eyes look slightly yellow for a short time. Only a doctor can tell these causes apart, so new yellowing always deserves a checkup.
How Do Doctors Treat Yellow Eyes Caused by Jaundice?
Doctors treat yellow eyes caused by jaundice by treating the condition behind it, and the yellow color fades as bilirubin levels improve. There is no direct treatment for the yellow tint itself. To find the cause, your doctor may order:
- A blood test to measure bilirubin and show which type is high
- Liver function tests and other blood work
- An ultrasound or CT scan of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts
- In some cases, a liver biopsy
Treatment then matches the diagnosis. That might mean medicine for hepatitis, stopping a drug that is harming the liver, avoiding alcohol, or a procedure to clear a gallstone that is blocking a bile duct. Jaundice is a job for your primary care doctor, a gastroenterologist, or a liver specialist, not an eye drop. How long it takes for the eyes to clear depends on the cause and how quickly it is treated.
What If Only Part of the White of Your Eye Is Yellow?
If only one spot or wedge on the white of your eye looks yellow, the cause is usually on the eye’s surface, not in your liver. These problems are common and are often linked to sun, wind, and dust exposure:
- Pinguecula: a raised, yellowish bump on the white of the eye, usually on the side near the nose
- Pterygium: a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth that can spread onto the cornea
- Healing subconjunctival hemorrhage: a broken blood vessel that can turn yellow or greenish as it fades
An eye doctor can tell these apart with a simple exam. Care often includes lubricating drops for irritation, a short course of anti-inflammatory drops when needed, and UV-blocking sunglasses. A pterygium that grows toward the center of the cornea or affects vision may be removed with surgery. These growths often feel dry and gritty, so dry eye treatment can also improve comfort.
Can Home Remedies or Eye Drops Whiten Yellow Eyes?
No eye drop, supplement, or home remedy can whiten eyes that are yellow from jaundice, because the color comes from bilirubin in your blood. Redness-relief or “whitening” drops shrink blood vessels on the surface of the eye. They do not remove yellow pigment, and frequent use can lead to rebound redness.
Healthy habits can support your liver while you follow your doctor’s plan. These include limiting or avoiding alcohol, taking medicines only as directed, staying hydrated, and eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Ask your doctor before trying herbal products, since some supplements can strain the liver. For yellow spots on the eye’s surface, wearing sunglasses outdoors and using preservative-free artificial tears may ease irritation. These steps support treatment, but they do not replace a diagnosis.
When Should You See a Doctor for Yellow Eyes?
You should see a doctor any time the whites of your eyes turn yellow, even if you feel fine, because new jaundice always needs a medical workup. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if yellow eyes come with:
- Severe belly pain, especially on the upper right side
- Fever or chills
- Confusion, extreme sleepiness, or trouble staying alert
- Dark urine or pale, clay-colored stools
- Vomiting, especially vomiting blood
- Easy bruising or bleeding
For a yellow bump or patch on the eye, see an eye doctor if it grows, becomes red and painful, or starts to blur your vision. Never assume yellow eyes will clear up on their own without first learning the cause.
Where Can You Get an Eye Exam in Manhattan, Paramus, or Atlanta?
If the yellow color is limited to one spot on the white of your eye, Diamond Vision can examine the eye’s surface and check for a pinguecula, pterygium, or dryness. Diamond Vision has offices in Manhattan at 2 W. 46th St., in Paramus, New Jersey, and in Hapeville near Atlanta, Georgia, plus other locations across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. You can find the office nearest you.
Diamond Vision focuses on vision correction and eye-surface care, so we do not treat jaundice or liver disease. If both eyes are yellow, please see your primary care doctor first, or go to the ER if you have warning signs. For surface concerns or routine vision questions, you can schedule an eye exam with our experienced team. If you are searching for yellow eyes treatment in Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NYC, start with an exam that pinpoints the cause.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow Eyes
Can yellow eyes go away on their own?
Yellow eyes sometimes fade on their own, but you should not wait to find out. Mild yellowing from Gilbert syndrome often clears once an illness, fast, or stressful period passes. A broken blood vessel that is healing also fades over a week or two. Jaundice from liver disease, hepatitis, or a blocked bile duct usually needs treatment, so any new yellowing should be checked by a doctor.
Is it normal for a newborn to have yellow eyes?
Mild jaundice is common in newborns, because a baby’s liver is still learning to clear bilirubin. It often appears in the first few days of life and usually goes away without harm. Your baby’s doctor will check for it after birth. Call the pediatrician right away if the yellow color spreads or deepens, or if your baby is very sleepy, feeding poorly, or hard to wake. High bilirubin in babies needs prompt treatment.
Can dehydration cause yellow eyes?
Dehydration alone does not usually cause yellow eyes, but it can trigger mild yellowing in people with Gilbert syndrome. In this harmless inherited condition, bilirubin can rise during dehydration, fasting, illness, or stress. Drinking enough water is good for your overall health, but it will not cure jaundice caused by liver or bile duct disease. If your eyes stay yellow after you rehydrate, or you have other symptoms, see a doctor.
What should I eat if I have yellow eyes?
No special diet removes yellow from the eyes, but liver-friendly eating can support your treatment. Focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of water. Limit fried foods and added sugar, and avoid alcohol completely if you have liver disease. Talk with your doctor before taking supplements or herbal remedies, because some can harm the liver. Diet works best alongside a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan.
Will a pinguecula go away on its own?
A pinguecula usually does not go away on its own, but it is harmless and rarely needs surgery. Most people only need lubricating eye drops when it feels dry or irritated, plus sunglasses to limit UV exposure. If it becomes swollen and red, an eye doctor may suggest a short course of anti-inflammatory drops. Removal is sometimes considered if it causes ongoing discomfort, interferes with contact lens wear, or bothers you cosmetically.
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