Yellowing eyes can be one of the symptoms of jaundice, which is caused by an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow colored substance resulting from the metabolism of hemoglobin, which in turn is the red colored substance that carries oxygen in red blood cells (red blood cells). Jaundice is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, which deposits in the conjunctiva (whites of the eyes), on the skin and mucous membranes, making them yellow. It may be accompanied by brown urine (coluria) and whitish feces (acolia).
Some disorders that can cause jaundice and yellow eyes are: hepatitis (viral or secondary to medications), cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, Gilbert's syndrome, liver cancer, sickle cell anemia, gallstones and tumors and cancer of the head of the pancreas.
Jaundice in newborns or neonatal jaundice, when it does not exceed the first 14 days of life, is considered a symptom of the development of the child's body (physiological), and is usually treated with light baths (phototherapy). In Gilbert's syndrome, jaundice is usually not intense and occurs in situations of stress to the body, such as long periods in fasting or situations of greater anxiety.
Learn more at: How can I tell if my baby has jaundice?
The treatment of jaundice depends on the identification of its cause and can be done with medication, exposure to light (in newborns) and surgeries. The general practitioner make the diagnosis for jaundice or refer the other professional to do so.
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