Jaundice Eye Color Index (JECI): quantifying the yellowness of the sclera in jaundiced neonates with digital photography

Abstract

© 2019, OSA - The Optical Society. All rights reserved. The sclera is arguably a better site than the skin to measure jaundice–especially in dark-skinned patients–since it is free of skin pigment (melanin), a major confounding factor. This work aims to show how the yellowness of the sclera can be quantified by digital photography in color spaces including the native RGB and CIE XYZ. We also introduce a new color metric we call “Jaundice Eye Color Index” (JECI) which allows the yellowness of jaundiced sclerae to be predicted for a specific total serum bilirubin level in the neonatal population.