The Indian white-eye was described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824 from a specimen collected in Bengal.

[4] This bird is small (about 8–9 cm long) with yellowish olive upper parts, a white eye ring, yellow throat and, a vent.

The taxonomy of the group is still unclear with some island populations being distinctive while some subspecies are not well supported.

[5] About eleven subspecies are well recognised, these include the nominate form (type locality Bengal, India) which is found from Oman and Arabia, Afghanistan, northern India and extends into China and northern Myanmar.

[8] Other Southeast Asian island forms include auriventer (=aureiventer), buxtoni, melanurus and unicus.

They sometimes occur in mangrove areas, such as in the Karachi region, Pakistan,[12] and on islands they may lead a more insectivorous life.

[15] These white-eyes are sociable, forming flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season.

[22] When nesting, they may mob palm squirrels but being small birds they are usually on the defensive.

[24] Endoparasitic Haemosporidia of the genus Haemoproteus and Dorisa have been isolated from the species although these rarely cause death.

[29][30] Although not strong fliers, they are capable of dispersing in winds and storms to new areas including offshore islands.