6 Unusual and Rare Eye Colors
Which eye hue is the rarest? Learn about a variety of uncommon eye colours as you read on. A close-up of a hazel eye, which is more uncommon than you might realise, is shown above.
By Chad Miller, through Flickr, [CC BY-SA 2.0]
If you know anything about eyes or windows, you know they come in a variety of shades and colours. The eyes are undoubtedly the windows to the soul.
When you look at the people around you, you typically notice brown or blue eyes, but occasionally, people develop incredibly fascinating and uncommon eye colours. Here are some of the most uncommon eye hues and their causes.
How Do Your Eyes Get Their Color?
Many may contend that your eye colour is entirely inherited, which is generally correct. The particular genes that determine a person's eye colour are still mostly unknown. Given that rarer eye colour genes are recessive, it may only take the perfect combination of genes to cause the phenomenon.
We also know that melanin, a brown pigment, and lipochrome, a red pigment, play a role in the determination of eye colour (yellow pigment). The way the iris scatters light also affects this. The absence of melanin or brown pigmentation is indicated by light blue eyes. On the other hand, if you see someone with dark brown eyes, you know they have a lot of melanin.
The Rarest Eye Colors and Their Causes Eye Color (s)
Heterochromia
pigmentation that is more or less intense in one iris or a section of an iris.
Anisocoria
Because one eye's pupil is bigger than the other, it seems darker.
Pink or red
due to albinism, little to no melanin.
Violet
Red blood vessels' light-reflecting surfaces combined with melanin deficiency.
Grey
The stroma contains a lot of collagen but very little melanin.
Green
Rayleigh scattering of light, a small amount of melanin, and a big amount of lipochrome.
Amber
small amount of melanin and a lot of lipochrome.
Hazel
The iris's outer region contains a concentration of melanin, which gives it a colourful appearance that typically runs from copper to green depending on the light.
Firstly, heterochromia and anisocoria
Anisocoria and heterochromia can occasionally be confused. David Bowie had anisocoria, not two different eye colours as most people believe.
- Eyes that are Red, Pink, and Violet
Pink or Red Eyes
Albinism and blood leaking into the iris are two main causes of red or pinkish eyes. Albinos often have extremely pale blue eyes because they lack pigment, however some types of albinism can make eyes seem red or pink.
Grey Eyes 3.
Grey eyes may pass for light blue ones. The amount of collagen found in the stroma is assumed to be the reason why these eyes look grey rather than blue. As a result, the light reflects as grey rather than blue due to interference with Rayleigh scattering.
- Eyes of Green
Different hues of green can be produced by very little melanin, a flash of lipochrome, and the Rayleigh scattering of light that bounces off the yellow stroma. Green eyes are uncommon, occurring in about 2% of people worldwide.
Amber Eyes, No. 5
It's common to mistake this lovely, golden eye colour for hazel. Hazel eyes have hints of brown and green, whereas amber eyes are a single, consistent dark orangey colour. A little melanin and a lot of lipochrome give eyes of this colour an almost dazzling appearance. This eye colour is found in a few different species, but it is incredibly uncommon in people.
Hazel Eyes, no. 6
Probably someone you know has hazel eyes. Even though they appear to be rather common, just 5% of people worldwide have hazel eyes. Melanin is concentrated on the exterior of the iris of hazel eyes, giving the eye a multicoloured look.
What Eye Color Is Most Popular?
Despite not knowing which eye colour is the most uncommon, we do know that brown eyes are the most prevalent. They are present in between 55% and 79% of the world's population. While dark brown eyes are more typical in Africa and East and Southeast Asia, light brown eyes are more prevalent in West Asia, Europe, and the Americas.