--- title: "Sclera Quality at FaceIQ Labs: Scleral Show, Reddening and Yellowing" description: "FaceIQ Labs' Sclera Quality assessment, part of the Features pillar, rates the whites of the eyes through scleral show, sclera reddening and sclera yellowing, each scored 0–10." canonical: "https://appear.faceiqlabs.com/support/features/sclera_quality" --- # Sclera Quality at FaceIQ Labs: Scleral Show, Reddening and Yellowing Sclera Quality is a FaceIQ Labs assessment within the Features pillar that evaluates the appearance and health of the whites of the eyes. It has three parts: scleral show (white visible below the iris), sclera reddening (bloodshot appearance) and sclera yellowing (yellow discoloration). Each is scored 0–10, and higher scores are better. ## Key facts - Sclera Quality is one of the Features-pillar assessments at FaceIQ Labs, alongside skin, under-eyes, creasing, eyelids, nose shape, hair, brows, lashes and symmetry. - It has three sub-assessments: Scleral Show, Sclera Reddening and Sclera Yellowing. - Each assessment is scored 0–10 in five bands, and higher scores are better. - Scleral Show levels run from Severe to None; Sclera Reddening and Sclera Yellowing levels run from Extreme to None. - Comparison levels can be viewed for male and female faces. - The help page advises assessing under neutral white lighting, since warm lighting and camera white balance can make sclera look more yellow. - The help page says significant yellowing may indicate health issues and advises consulting a doctor. - The help page cites Russell et al., 2014 for brighter, whiter sclera being perceived as healthier, younger and more attractive. ## What is Sclera Quality in FaceIQ Labs' facial analysis? Sclera Quality is a FaceIQ Labs assessment that evaluates the appearance and health of the sclera, the white part of the eyes. It belongs to the Features pillar and has three parts: scleral show, sclera reddening and sclera yellowing. FaceIQ Labs describes clear, bright white sclera as a key indicator of overall health. ## Why does sclera appearance matter in FaceIQ Labs' scoring? FaceIQ Labs says the eyes are the primary focus in face-to-face communication, so clear white sclera with high contrast against the iris creates healthy-looking, attractive eyes. Redness, yellowing or excessive scleral show can signal health issues and reduce eye appeal in its Sclera Quality rating. The help page cites Russell et al., 2014 for whiter sclera being perceived as healthier, younger and more attractive. ## How are Sclera Quality levels scored? FaceIQ Labs scores each Sclera Quality assessment from 0 to 10 in five bands, and higher scores are better. Scleral show runs from Severe (0–2) to None (9–10), while sclera reddening and sclera yellowing run from Extreme (0–2) to None (9–10). Comparison levels can be viewed for male and female faces. Scleral show bands are Severe 0–2, Noticeable 3–4, Moderate 5–6, Minimal 7–8 and None 9–10. Reddening and yellowing bands are Extreme 0–2, Moderate 3–4, Mild 5–6, Minimal 7–8 and None 9–10. The help page shows an example score of 5–6/10 for each assessment. ## What is scleral show and how does FaceIQ Labs assess it? Scleral show is the white visible below the iris when looking straight ahead. FaceIQ Labs treats minimal to no inferior scleral show as ideal, because excessive show can create a startled or tired appearance. Higher scores indicate better lower lid position, and well-positioned lower lids enhance eye aesthetics. FaceIQ Labs evaluates four things: inferior scleral show, the amount of white (a small rim versus a significant gap between iris and lower lid), lower lid position (how high the lid covers the iris), and eye shape, since round eyes tend to show more white than almond-shaped eyes. The help page advises assessing with eyes looking straight ahead at camera level and checking whether the lower lid meets or slightly overlaps the iris. ## What can distort a scleral show reading? Looking up or down, wide-eyed expressions, fatigue and natural ethnic variation can all change how much scleral show appears in a photo analyzed by FaceIQ Labs. Looking up or down changes it, wide-eyed expressions artificially increase it, fatigue can affect eyelid position, and some ethnic features naturally show more or less. ## What is sclera reddening and how does FaceIQ Labs assess it? Sclera reddening evaluates the bloodshot appearance and visible blood vessels in the whites of the eyes. In FaceIQ Labs' Sclera Quality assessment, clear white sclera signals health and alertness, while redness can indicate fatigue, irritation or health issues. Higher scores indicate clearer whites. FaceIQ Labs looks at overall redness (white versus pink or red), visible blood vessels (a prominent spider-web pattern), distribution (localized versus throughout the sclera), intensity (a faint pink tinge versus bright bloodshot red) and clarity (clear, bright white versus dull and irritated). The help page advises assessing both eyes and comparing them. ## What can distort a sclera reddening reading? Allergies, fatigue, contact lenses, environmental factors such as smoke or chlorine, and photo lighting color can all affect how red the sclera looks in a FaceIQ Labs analysis. Allergies, fatigue and environmental factors cause temporary redness, and contact lenses can irritate and redden eyes. Photo lighting color can also change how sclera appears. ## What is sclera yellowing and how does FaceIQ Labs assess it? Sclera yellowing evaluates yellow discoloration in the whites of the eyes. In FaceIQ Labs' Sclera Quality assessment, bright white sclera is a sign of health, while yellowing can indicate liver issues, age-related changes or other health conditions. Higher scores indicate clearer whites. FaceIQ Labs looks at yellow tint (pure white versus cream or yellow), intensity (a subtle tint versus obvious discoloration), distribution (localized versus throughout the sclera), contrast with the iris (how much yellowing reduces it) and overall eye clarity (bright and clear versus dull and discolored). ## What can distort a sclera yellowing reading? Warm lighting, camera white balance and natural variation in sclera whiteness can all make sclera look more yellow in a FaceIQ Labs analysis. The help page recommends neutral white lighting and comparing both eyes for consistency, and says significant yellowing may indicate health issues, so a doctor should be consulted. ## How should I photograph my eyes for an accurate sclera reading? FaceIQ Labs recommends photos taken from six feet away with the back camera at 2x zoom, at eye level, with even lighting and a neutral expression. For sclera specifically, its help page advises looking straight ahead at camera level under neutral white lighting, since warm lighting and wide-eyed expressions can distort results. ## Does FaceIQ Labs say sclera changes could be a health issue? FaceIQ Labs' help page links sclera changes to possible health issues: redness can indicate fatigue, irritation or health issues, and yellowing can indicate liver issues, age-related changes or other conditions. It advises consulting a doctor about significant yellowing. Sclera Quality is presented as an appearance rating, and the page gives no diagnostic guidance beyond that advice. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Sclera Quality its own pillar in FaceIQ Labs' scoring? No. Sclera Quality is one of several assessments under FaceIQ Labs' Features pillar, alongside skin, under-eyes, creasing, eyelids, nose shape, hair, brows, lashes and symmetry. The four pillars are Harmony, Angularity, Dimorphism and Features. ### What are the three components of FaceIQ Labs' Sclera Quality assessment? Scleral Show (visibility of white below the iris), Sclera Reddening (bloodshot appearance and visible blood vessels) and Sclera Yellowing (yellow discoloration of the eye whites). ### Do higher scores mean better or worse sclera quality? Higher scores are better. For scleral show they indicate better lower lid position, and for reddening and yellowing they indicate clearer, whiter sclera. ### Does lighting affect Sclera Quality results at FaceIQ Labs? Yes. The help page notes that photo lighting color can affect how sclera appears, warm lighting can make sclera look more yellow, and camera white balance affects perceived color. It recommends neutral white lighting. ### Can temporary conditions change my sclera results? Yes. The help page notes that allergies, fatigue, contact lens irritation and environmental factors such as smoke or chlorine can cause temporary redness. Fatigue can also affect eyelid position, which changes scleral show. ### Does FaceIQ Labs say sclera yellowing could be a medical issue? Yes. The help page says yellowing can indicate liver issues, age-related changes or other health conditions, and that significant yellowing may indicate health issues, so it advises consulting a doctor. ## Pages on this host This is one page of several on this host. 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