Yellow eyes are a sign of elevated bilirubin in the blood: the normally white conjunctiva turns yellow.
A liver problem?
Liver diseases are the most common causes of yellow eyes. For example, Gilbert’s syndrome is observed in 5 to 7% of the general population : “This syndrome is generally caused by fatigue, overwork, fever, infection or stress. This is a lack of excretion of bilirubin in the liver which is normally eliminated in the digestive tract or intestines“, tells us Dr Karim Chaouchi, gastroenterologist and interventional hepatologist. This syndrome is hereditary and revealed by yellowing of the eyes which will be temporary. “It is not considered a true disease since it is never accompanied by organic liver disease.“. Other cause: early liver disease which take hold suddenly or chronically, in the case of gallstones in particular, which in addition to abdominal pain will cause a state of jaundice in the eyes, and if this is not taken care of, jaundice can spread to the entire skin (this is called mucocutaneous jaundice). Actually, “all liver diseases can cause jaundice of the eyes whether it is viral hepatitis C or B at a stage of cirrhosis, certain autoimmune diseases which destroy the liver and which reach the stage of cirrhosis“. Yellow eyes can therefore be a symptom ofan insufficiency of excretion from the liver as well as hepatocellular insufficiency.
A sign of intense fatigue?
Yellow eyes may be linked to hemolysis, i.e. destruction of red blood cells and be accompanied by a state of severe fatigue. “Hemoglobin (essential content of red blood cells) is broken down into bilirubin in the event of hemolysis and causes conjunctival jaundice (commonly called yellow eyes). Any hematological disease that causes hemolysis (called hemolytic anemia), including thalassemia, sickle cell disease, certain enzyme deficiency diseases such as G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency may be considered the cause of this symptom.explains Dr Karim Chaouchi, gastroenterologist and interventional hepatologist.
Cancer ?
In the context of liver cancer, the excretion of the ball is hurt or is not done correctly and then causes jaundice. “This is the case for cancers developing from liver cells such as hepatocellular carcinomaat the level of the bile ducts like the cholangiocarcinomaor through liver metastases from cancer extra-hepatic”, specifies Dr Chaouchi.
Too much alcohol ?
Certain diseases that cause chronic destruction of the liver, causing cirrhosis, can cause yellow eyes. This is the case for people who consume alcohol excessively (+ 30 g/day, the equivalent of 3 glasses daily). Alcoholic hepatitis will initially cause conjunctival jaundice and can then deteriorate. “This can range from simple reversible hepatitis to serious cirrhosis. irreversible“he specifies.