The onset of jaundice is gradual and may go unnoticed in the beginning, but it typically shows up first in the whites of the eyes. Higher concentrations of bilirubin yield a brown shade. When the liver is compromised and there is a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, and it shows up as a yellow tint to the eyes and skin. Under normal circumstances, the liver filters bilirubin from the blood, forming a fluid called bile that flows through bile ducts to the adjacent gallbladder, where it is stored and eventually excreted by the body. One function of the liver is to rid the body of bilirubin, an orange-yellow waste compound made up of old or abnormal red blood cells. While not a disease in and of itself, jaundice is a sign that the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts are not functioning as they should. Jaundice occurs in newborns, children and adults although its cause generally differs by age group. Yellow eyes generally are a symptom of jaundice, which is a discolouration of the skin and eyes caused by elevated levels of a pigment called bilirubin. (Sometimes, the term scleral icterus also is used to describe yellow eyes.) One type of discolouration of the front of the eye is conjunctival icterus, which is the medical term for yellow eyes. If this part of your eye is red or discoloured, it's time to see an optician to determine what's causing the change in colour. The sclera (white of the eye) should always look, well, white. This article gives you the facts you need to know about yellow eyes - and what you can do about them. Are your eyes starting to look yellow? The cause may be jaundice, some medications or a host of medical conditions, some very serious.
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