Understanding neonatal phototherapy

Neonatal jaundice can affect up to 60% of full term babies during their first week of life. In the UK, babies are routinely monitored following birth for signs of jaundice. A prominent feature in jaundiced babies is the yellowing of the sclera caused by excess bilirubin, and where it is the most superficial part of the sclera  with a  higher elastin content that is considered to more highly absorb bilirubin.  

Interest has been shown¹⁹ in using the degree of yellow pigmentation of the sclera as a measure of the level of bilirubin present in the neonate where there are advantages relating to optical measurements based on the lack of melanin in scleral tissue and also its relatively low level of vascularisation.