Yellow Whites Of The Eyes

What Causes Yellow Eyes?

Yellow eyes can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'.  Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms.  In order to diagnose yellow eyes, we could:

  • Research the topic
  • Find a doctor with the time
  • Use a diagnostic computer system.
The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "yellow eyes" as a symptom.  Here are eight possibilities:
  • Cirrhosis Of The Liver
  • Hepatitis
  • Gallbladder Disease
  • Liver Congestion
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Malaria
  • Jaundice
  • Infectious Mononucleosis

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
moderate abdominal pain
being medication sensitive
frequent nightmares
tetracycline use
history of CFS diagnosis
red palms/fingertips
living in the tropics
chronic abdominal pain
reduced mental clarity
major unexplained weight loss
frequent swollen inguinal nodes
dull epigastric pain after meals
... and more than 120 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of yellow eyes:
Cause Probability Status
Jaundice 98% Confirm
Gallbladder Disease 26% Unlikely
Hepatitis 12% Unlikely
Pancreatic Cancer 4% Ruled out
Cirrhosis Of The Liver 1% Ruled out
Malaria 1% Ruled out
Infectious Mononucleosis 1% Ruled out
Liver Congestion 1% Ruled out
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate eye problems, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:
Do the whites of your eyes have a more yellow (jaundiced) color than in previous weeks or months?
Possible responses:
→ Don't know
→ No
→ Yes, a little I think
→ Definitely
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate absence of jaundiced eyes, slightly jaundiced eyes or jaundiced eyes, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Jaundice

Jaundice also suggests the following possibilities:

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes that occurs when the diseased liver does not process enough bilirubin.

Gallbladder Disease

The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestines through a tube called the cystic duct, which connects to the bile duct.  When gallstones are obstructing these ducts, bile builds up in the gallbladder and increases the concentration of a yellowish substance called bilirubin in the blood, causing a yellowing of the skin known as jaundice.

Hepatitis

Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by increased amounts of bilirubin in the bloodstream.  High levels of bilirubin my be excreted by the kidneys in response to inflammation of the liver cells caused by hepatitis.

Malaria

Malaria can cause jaundice through the loss of red blood cells.

... and also rule out issues such as:
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