Ocular Discoloration From Disease

Ocular discoloration is the change of color of the white part of the eye. The disease effecting the color change may be directly related to the eye, or may be a disease occurring in another part of the body. The color and the accompanying symptoms help physicians to narrow down the causes.

Effects

• The sclera, or white part of the eye, may turn yellow, blue, purple or red. It may be a gradual change, or can happen suddenly.

Significance

• Yellow ocular discoloration may be due to smoking or liver disease. A blue hue to the eye may indicate osteogenesis imperfecta (condition of fragile bones), some forms of melanocytosis (overproduction of pigmented cells), or alkaptonuria (genetic disease of metabolism).

Features

• Scleritis, an inflammation of the sclera, is associated with purple ocular discoloration and may be due to an autoimmune disease. Increased ocular pressure due to acute glaucoma can cause blood vessels in the eye to rupture, causing a red discoloration.

Warning

• Upon occurrence of ocular discoloration, consult a physician to determine the cause. Diseases directly affecting the eye can lead to loss of vision if not treated early.

Considerations

• In most cases, treatment of the underlying disease will cause resolution of the ocular discoloration. In the case of collagen diseases, such as osteogeneis imperfecta, there may always be a slight discoloration.