“Why are the whites of my daughters eyes brown?”
My daughter, 52, had two tumors removed one year ago for breast cancer. She received 30 days of x-ray treatment. Then they put her on tomoxifin which she is on now. She is very active and goes for long walks every day. However, the whites of her eyes are very brown and it worries me. Can you help?
Female | 52 years old
Medications: tomoxofin
Conditions: breast cancer
8 Answers
She needs a complete ophthalmological exam.
I would recommend an eye exam with an ophthalmologist. There are many possible reasons for pigment deposition in the sclera.
Frank Cao
Frank Cao
Lifelong patchy areas of color, if she is darker complected or with ancestry of darker complexion, is usually either nevi or complexion associated pigmentation that is normal. However, if all the whites of the eyes are brown, there are some metabolic diseases and other causes that should be evaluated and ruled out, that may require treatment. I would recommend she see a Pediatric Ophthalmologist for an examination if that is the case.
Brown in the white part of the eyes can be a normal finding in darkly pigmented individuals with brown eyes. It can slowly worsen with age. Other causes for brownish discoloration include extreme dryness which can occur after cancer treatment, thinning of the sclera or white part of the eyes, or pigmented growth. The only way to determine the cause is to see an eye care professional.
Hope this is helpful,
Alan J. Franklin, MD, PhD
Hope this is helpful,
Alan J. Franklin, MD, PhD
Her brown eyes are normal.
Dr. LMJ
Dr. LMJ
It's due to pigmentation from solar radiation
This is most likely thinning of the sclera allowing the underlying brown choroid to show through. However, with your daughters history of breast cancer, she should have an eye examination with an ophthalmologist to make sure there are no ocular or orbital metastases. SO
The first question would be her ethnic background. For darker skin people, over time the whites can darker. If she is caucasian or European descent, she should be seen. The medication can cause swelling inside the eye, although not common she should be followed by an eye care provider.
