Change In Eye Color: Truth And Myths

Eye color is just like skin and hair color related to a person’s production of melanin. Some people experience a change in eye color during life for various reasons. In this article, we will look at some of the myths that pertain to this topic.

There are more than 150 genes involved in the production, transport and storage of melanin. Melanin is what gives pigment and as a result, it defines the color of a person’s eyes.

People who have bright eyes in shades of blue-green do not produce or store large amounts of melanin. On the other hand, people with darker eyes in dark brown and black shades do just that.

How is eye color determined?

According to an article published in the journal Missouri Medicine, the  color of human eyes is determined by the density and size of melanocytes,  which are the cellular structures that make up melanin. Melanocytes are found along the entire connective tissue of the iris and affect eye color and tone.

The above article explains that the OCA2 gene in the 15th chromosome produces the protein responsible for creating and processing melanin. The more active this gene is, the more melanin is produced, resulting in darker eye colors. However, there are other nuisances that can affect eye color, and several of them involve lighter colors such as blue and green.

What does the iris do in connection with a change in eye color?

The iris is a flat, annular membrane made up of connective tissue and muscle fibers. It is located behind the cornea and surrounds the pupil. The rainbow is the part of the eye that has color, and together with the pupil, it controls how much light enters the eye.

The muscle fibers in the iris help to expand and shrink the pupil to allow light to enter the eye. When functioning properly, this function occurs naturally as a reaction to the amount of light that is in the surroundings.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, it can sometimes seem as if one’s eyes change color, but most often it’s just the light that makes us believe it. Changes in light cause the pupil to dilate, which can also make it look like one’s eyes are a different color,  and it is only temporary.

However, if you notice an obvious change in your eyes, either one or both eyes, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately. It is actually quite rare for eyes to change color  and it can be a sign of a disease such as uveitis, hepatitis or aniridia from medication or an injury to the eye.

Common beliefs about change in eye color

There are many beliefs about how and why eyes might change color. We are here to help you identify which ones are true and which ones are myths.

We are born with a different eye color

True. During the first months of life, the melanocytes have only just gotten started and they have not produced all of the body’s melanin. A newborn’s eye color will therefore most likely change continuously over time.

An article published in the American Academy of Pediatrics points out that  melanocytes take about a year to produce all the melanin in the body. In other words, a baby’s gray or blue eyes may get darker during the first year of life.

It is possible that some babies are born with conditions that affect their pigmentation, such as albinism or heterochromia, where one eye may be different from the other or one eye may contain many different colors. Accidents, genetic factors, illness and disorders can all affect this aspect.

Green eyes are the result of a genetic mutation

Wrong. Green eyes are not the result of a genetic mutation. Rather, it is the result of a moderate production of melanin and a medium density of melanocytes, as described in this article in Genetics of Eye Color.

Another article, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, said that eye color is not determined by the number of melanocytes. According to the study  , it is instead the composition of melanin that affects eye color. There are three types of melanin: eumelanin, feomelanin and neuromelanin. Only feomelanin affects eye color.

Eye color can change with mood

Wrong. Your mood does not change your eye color,  or at least there are no studies that support this claim.

As we have mentioned above, changes in light cause the pupil to dilate to adapt to lighter and darker environments. When this happens, less of the iris is visible, which may lead us to believe that the eye is a different color.

In addition, one’s eyes may even reflect the color of an object nearby, which also contributes to this misconception of the eye color.

One can change the color of the eye with surgery

That’s true, but we do not recommend it. In addition to wearing colored contact lenses, there are two surgeries that can change the appearance of the iris. One of these is a iris implant, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018.

This type of surgery started as a method of treating birth defects and restoring an eye after an accident. However, it quickly became popular in cosmetics to change the eye color.

Most health professionals would advise against exposing healthy eyes to this surgery. This is because it can affect the function of the eye if something goes wrong. Some of the risks of this surgery are an increase in pressure in the eye, swelling inside the eye, edema of the cornea, loss of vision and cataracts.

The second type of surgery is a keratopigmentation of the cornea, which is commonly known as tattooing of the cornea. This procedure is for patients with varying degrees of blindness, which causes spots on the eye.

Tattooing of the cornea helps to soothe the affected eye while it involves few risks. This makes it a great choice for treatment and cosmetics.

For individuals wishing to use this technique for cosmetic purposes, a clinical study examining the effects of the procedure in the medium and long term found that it may cause hypersensitivity to light, discoloration of the eye and corneal inflammation.

Take care of your eyes – especially if you experience a change in eye color

Our eyes help us to perceive the world around us and perform daily activities easily. Sight is actually considered to be the most dominant of the five senses. Although you may not like your eye color, it is important to keep in mind that these procedures can cause irreparable damage to your eyes and your vision.

After the first year of life, one’s eyes typically remain the same color. If you notice changes in your eye color, you should see an ophthalmologist. They will be able to help you understand why the change has occurred. They can also tell you what to do to keep your eyes healthy.