Yellow eyes (jaundice) means bilirubin — a yellow pigment from broken-down blood cells — is accumulating in your body. It always has a cause that needs to be found. This page explains the common causes, the red flags, and what tests you need at Mascot Healthcare.
Jaundice has three broad categories of cause — pre-hepatic (blood breakdown), hepatic (liver disease), and post-hepatic (bile duct blockage). The tests that distinguish them are simple and available same-day.
Malaria parasites destroy red blood cells, releasing bilirubin — causing yellow eyes alongside fever and chills. Common and treatable.
Liver inflammation from hepatitis viruses — acute hepatitis A or E classically presents with sudden jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools. Hepatitis B and C cause slower jaundice.
A chronic hepatitis B carrier can develop acute jaundice during a flare of viral activity — requires urgent liver function tests and HBV DNA.
Advanced scarring of the liver from chronic hepatitis B, alcohol, or fatty liver — persistent or recurring jaundice with abdominal swelling.
A gallstone blocking the common bile duct causes jaundice, right upper abdominal pain, and pale stools — a surgical emergency.
In people with sickle cell disease, a haemolytic crisis destroys red blood cells rapidly — causing acute jaundice, pain, and anaemia.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs) — Bilirubin, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT — identifies the pattern of liver damage and severity.
Malaria RDT + Blood Film — Excludes malaria as the cause — See turnaround.
Hepatitis B & C Screen — HBsAg, anti-HCV — checks for viral hepatitis as the cause.
Full Blood Count — Haemoglobin and blood film — checks for haemolytic anaemia (sickle cell, malaria).
Abdominal Ultrasound — Assesses liver size, bile duct dilation, gallstones, and portal hypertension.
Yellow eyes always have a cause that needs to be identified. Most causes are treatable. The longer you wait, the harder some conditions become to treat.
Many Lagos herbal preparations are hepatotoxic (liver-damaging). Any yellow eyes + herbal use must be disclosed at the clinic — some herbals worsen liver disease significantly.
Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol entirely until the cause is confirmed — alcohol worsens all forms of liver disease.
Some medications cause jaundice (isoniazid for TB, some antibiotics, paracetamol overdose). Bring everything you are taking.
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