Why Are My Baby’s Sclerae Bluish?

A bluish tint in a baby’s sclera (the white part of the eye) is commonly due to the infant’s young age: the sclera is relatively thin and underdeveloped, making the underlying choroidal blood vessels more visible. If no other symptoms are present, this condition typically requires no treatment and gradually resolves with age. Alternatively, a bluish sclera may indicate increased intraocular pressure or conditions such as glaucoma—or it could be associated with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone syndrome), which can also cause scleral bluing. We recommend prompt evaluation at a hospital for further diagnostic testing and appropriate management.