The eyes are one of our greatest senses as they connect us to the world and allow us to see its beauty. Perhaps that is the reason why eyes have been a part of countless poems throughout the ages. In addition to their beauty, they are also mysterious and have always caught the interest of each generation. Here are some interesting facts about eye color:
1. Every Eye is a Brown Eye
This might come as a huge surprise to some; however, there are no pigments in the human eye that could attribute to shades of blue, green, or hazel. Interestingly, the compound known as melanin is responsible for the color of the eyes. It is present in the iris, and it also gives color to our skin and hair. Melanin itself is dark brown, hence, each eye in the world is brown; however, the amount of melanin present in each iris determines the shades of eyes, i.e., lighter shades like green and blue are because of less melanin and darker shades are due to high levels of melanin.
2. Different Color, Different Sensitivity
Depending on the color of an individual’s eye, they are more or less sensitive to sunlight. Dark colored-eyes are known to block the ultraviolet rays from the sun, whereas light-colored eyes such as blue or green are less likely to block out the harsh rays. Therefore, enhancing the need for sunglasses.
3. Many Eyes but One Ancestor
Presently, 18% of the population has blue eyes in the world, almost 144 million people. Interestingly, all of them share the same ancestor according to the University of Copenhagen. In their research, they discovered that a genetic mutation caused the eyes to turn blue, and before that, there was no one with blue eyes. It is believed that this person who had the first-ever blue eyes lived between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.
4. Brown is Very Common
Brown eyes are extremely common in the world. According to the statistics, nearly 48% of the population is born with brown eyes, which isn’t surprising because of the melanin. On the contrary, blue eyes are at 18%, while green eyes, which are considered the rarest, are found among 8% of the population.
5. Colors are Unpredictable
With parents having different eye colors, it is not surprising for them to make an assumption about what their future child’s eye color will be. Interestingly, there is no means that can tell the eye color of a baby. Previously, it was believed that eye color was dependent on dominant and recessive genes; however, those are only applicable to other traits. Presently, it is believed that the color of the eye is dependent on the combination of 16 genes, and determining those combinations is near to impossible.
6. Eyes can Change Colors
That is true, eyes can change color depending on your health conditions. Unfortunately, it is not because of good health. In a rare condition, known as Wilson’s disease, the iris can develop a greenish orange ring because of elevated copper levels in the body. In conditions like glaucoma or cataracts, one of the eyes’ colors starts becoming lighter. If any form of discoloration is observed in the eyes, it is best to consult a physician.