How to Whiten Your Eyes
Why Your Eyes May Not Look White
Red or bloodshot eyes happen when the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye expand and become visible. These vessels sit in the conjunctiva and episclera, thin layers of tissue over the sclera (the white part of your eye). Irritants, allergies, lack of sleep, and dry air are the most common triggers for visible redness.
The redness goes away once you address the cause. Chronic redness that does not resolve with rest or basic home care may signal an underlying condition that your eye doctor should evaluate.
A yellow tint to the whites of your eyes often signals a buildup of bilirubin, a waste product your liver processes. This condition, called jaundice, can indicate liver disease, gallbladder problems, blood disorders, or other systemic conditions and requires prompt medical evaluation (AAO). Even without eye discomfort, yellow eyes warrant a doctor's visit.
Brown or blue-gray scleral discoloration may point to conditions like ochronosis or melanosis (AAO). These changes are not cosmetic concerns but medical findings that your doctor needs to investigate.
A pinguecula is a small, raised yellowish deposit on the conjunctiva near the cornea, caused by sun exposure and aging. A pterygium is a fleshy growth that can extend onto the cornea and may affect your vision if it grows large enough (AAO). Both conditions change the appearance of the white part of your eye.
Your eye doctor can monitor these growths and recommend removal if they cause irritation or threaten your vision. UV-blocking sunglasses reduce your risk of developing or worsening these growths. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, wraparound frames offer the best protection against wind and UV exposure that contribute to these conditions.
Safe Ways to Brighten Your Eyes
You can reduce redness by placing a cool washcloth over closed eyes for five to ten minutes, two to three times per day (AAO). The cool temperature constricts surface blood vessels without medication. Drinking enough water throughout the day supports healthy tear production, which keeps the eye surface moist and clear.
Adequate sleep gives your eyes time to repair and rebuild their tear film. Seven to eight hours per night helps reduce the redness and puffiness that make your eyes look tired and dull.
Brimonidine 0.025% eye drops constrict small blood vessels (venules) on the eye surface without causing rebound redness, making them a safer option when you want occasional whitening (AAO News, 2018). Traditional decongestant drops using tetrahydrozoline whiten your eyes within minutes but cause rebound redness after about 3 days of use, where vessels dilate larger than before (AAO).
Neither type of drop addresses the underlying cause of redness. Your eye doctor can help you determine whether whitening drops suit your situation and which formula carries fewer risks.
Addressing the source of irritation produces longer-lasting results than masking redness with drops. Use preservative-free artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated, wear UV-blocking sunglasses outdoors, and minimize exposure to smoke and dust. If allergies cause your redness, over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops target the underlying immune response.
- Keep indoor air humidified to prevent tear film evaporation
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes
- Replace eye makeup every three months to avoid bacterial contamination
- Take screen breaks using the 20-20-20 rule to prevent eye fatigue
Approaches to Avoid
Traditional redness-relieving drops work by constricting blood vessels, but your eyes develop tolerance with repeated use. After a few days, the blood vessels rebound and dilate larger than they were before you started using the drops (AAO). You end up needing the drops more often, and your eyes look redder each time the medication wears off.
If you have been using these drops daily, your eye doctor can help you taper off and switch to a safer alternative. Stopping them may cause a temporary increase in redness before your eyes return to their natural state.
Some clinics market cosmetic surgery to whiten the sclera by removing conjunctival tissue. The AAO does not endorse these procedures because they carry serious safety risks including infection, scarring, persistent redness, and damage to the eye surface (AAO). No safe at-home method exists to change the color of your scleral tissue.
If discoloration concerns you, have your eye doctor evaluate the cause. Medical treatment of the underlying condition is safer and more effective than cosmetic surgery on the eye surface.
Putting lemon juice, honey, or other food-based substances in your eyes can cause chemical burns, infections, and serious damage. No evidence supports these methods for whitening your eyes. Social media and online forums promote unverified eye remedies that can result in emergency room visits.
Stick to preservative-free artificial tears, cool compresses, and approaches your eye doctor recommends. Your safest options involve treating the cause of discoloration rather than applying unproven substances to your eye surface.
Questions About Eye Whitening
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables supports overall eye health and may reduce inflammation that contributes to redness. Foods containing lutein and omega-3 fatty acids support tear quality. However, no specific food can change the color of your scleral tissue or produce instant whitening.
Artificial tears reduce redness from dryness by restoring your tear film, which can make your eyes appear brighter. They do not contain whitening agents. For redness caused by dry eye, lubricating drops address the actual problem rather than masking it.
Colored contacts change your iris color, not the whiteness of your sclera. Prescription colored contacts fitted by your eye doctor are safe. Costume contacts sold without a prescription can cause corneal scratches, infections, and vision loss. Get a proper fitting from your eye doctor regardless of the type.
Yellow whites (jaundice) indicate that bilirubin is building up in your blood, which points to liver, gallbladder, or blood cell problems. Jaundice requires medical evaluation even if you feel fine. Your doctor will run blood tests and imaging to find the cause.
Redness-reducing drops begin working within one to five minutes. The effect lasts four to eight hours depending on the formula. Brimonidine 0.025% drops take effect at a similar speed but carry less rebound risk than traditional decongestant drops.
Sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of UV rays reduce irritation from sunlight and wind, both of which cause redness. UV protection also prevents pinguecula and pterygium growths that discolor the eye surface over time (AAO). Wraparound styles give the best coverage against wind and peripheral light.
Talk to Your Eye Doctor About Eye Discoloration
If the whites of your eyes look red, yellow, or discolored and will not clear on their own, schedule an eye exam. Your doctor can identify the cause and recommend safe treatment.