What it means
The sclera covers the eye except for the clear cornea at the front. Its color is a useful sign: a yellow sclera is seen with jaundiceJAWN-disYellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.Full entry , and redness is seen with irritation, infection or bleeding.
For the nurse
Check the sclera for yellowing in good natural light, especially in clients with darker skin, where jaundice is harder to see on the skin.
At a glance
| Spanish | esclerótica |
|---|---|
| Also written | sclerae, scleral |
Related terms
jaundice
Yellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.
ophthalmic
Having to do with the eye, or describing a medicine made to be put in the eye.