Why Do I See Yellow in My Vision?

Have you ever experienced seeing yellow in your vision? It can be a concerning experience, but before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to understand the possible reasons for this phenomenon. 

There are various causes of yellow vision, ranging from minor factors like altering light conditions or rubbing your eyes to more serious medical concerns such as retinal detachment. If you experience seeing yellow, visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam and a proper diagnosis. 

Seeing Yellow

Many eye diseases don’t present with early warning symptoms, but some do. If you notice yellow vision or yellow spots, there may be an underlying cause. These may disappear immediately, remain temporarily, or stay for longer. 

Possible Causes of Yellow Vision

Potential causes of yellow vision can include nonmedical reasons or medical conditions that should be looked at by your eye doctor. 

Nonmedical reasons can include:

• Looking at bright light: You can see temporary spots after looking at bright lights, which cause the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) to become saturated in pigment. 
• Rubbing your eyes: You can see yellow spots or bursts of yellow in your vision if you rub your eyes or put pressure on your eyeball. These usually go away after several moments. 
• Radiation exposure: Radiation therapy can cause changes in vision color as a side effect. It usually goes away once the radiation stops. 
• Medication side effects: Some medications can cause spots or patterns of light in your vision. Hallucinogenic drugs and alcohol can also stimulate spots and light patterns. If you’re taking any medications and notice a change in your vision, speak to your doctor. Digoxin is a heart failure medication that can cause you to see a yellow-green tint as a side effect. 
• Head injury: An injury to your head causes electrical impulses in the part of your brain that controls vision. Your brain may interpret these as spots or patterns. 

Medical reasons can include:

• Migraines: Migraines can cause visual disturbances, including yellow vision. These visual symptoms result from “aura,” a migraine paired with sensory changes. 
• Retinal detachment: Occurs when the retina partially or fully detaches from the back of the eye. It can cause you to see yellow spots or patterns of color. Other symptoms of retinal detachment can include floaters, flashes of light, and vision loss. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms, as retinal detachment is an eye emergency. 
• Other conditions: Retinoblastoma, diabetic retinopathy, solar retinopathy (damage from looking at the sun), and retina infections can also cause yellow spots in your vision. 
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA): Occurs when there’s a blockage in the blood vessel leading to your eyes, which can cause you to see yellow spots. 
• Eye melanoma: Some people may see yellow spots if they have eyeball cancer. 

What to Do if You See Yellow in Your Vision

Temporary yellow vision from looking at bright lights or rubbing your eyes doesn’t require treatment. However, seeing yellow because of medical reasons requires treating the underlying cause. 

Here are some steps you can take if you see yellow in your vision that doesn’t go away:

• See your eye doctor: If you’re experiencing yellow vision, the first step is to see an eye doctor. They can evaluate your eyes and help determine the cause of your symptoms. Depending on the cause, they may recommend treatments like medications, surgery, or lifestyle changes.
• Manage migraines: If you’re experiencing migraines, speak to your doctor about treatment options. There are medications and lifestyle changes that can help prevent or reduce the severity of migraines and their associated visual symptoms.
• Check your medications: If your eye doctor suspects a medication is causing your yellow vision, speak to a healthcare professional about alternatives. They may be able to switch you to a different medication or adjust your dosage to reduce your symptoms.

Personalized Care for Healthy Eyes & Vision

Yellow vision can be a concerning symptom with many possible causes, from something as minor as changing light conditions or more serious, such as retinal detachment. 

If you’re experiencing yellow in your vision, book an appointment with the eye doctor at Family EyeCare Center Optometry for an evaluation. Depending on the cause, treatment may vary to help prevent or manage your symptoms.