So, the more melanin you have, the darker your eyes appear. Black is not an eye color. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The website WorldAtlas.com takes a stab at estimating the breakdown of eye colors worldwide. Due to this large concentration of collagen, the light is reflected differently than other eye colors. Some speculate that this change in environment was a contributing factor. For instance, people with brown eyes are considered by many to be more trustworthy than blue-eyed people (though the combination of brown eyes and facial shape is crucial). [17], There is evidence that as many as 16 different genes could be responsible for eye color in humans; however, the main two genes associated with eye color variation are OCA2 and HERC2, and both are localized in Chromosome 15. If this gene activation never happens, a baby's eyes will stay blue. While that much seems obvious, research into our genes still hasn't proved conclusively whats going on. Researchers found that only 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf. Cavin Herbert Eye Institute. At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract. . In 2016, scientists found that our pale skin complexion is inherited from just one man who lived thousands of years ago. [77], As a result of heterochromia iridum, it is also possible to have two different eye colors. [46], Green eyes are most common in Northern, Western and Central Europe. Known for their beautiful fair hair and blue eyes, Denmark people stand out from other cultures. A person may also have more than one eye color, a condition called Heretochromia, which affects less than 1% of people. It is a result of the relative excess or lack of pigment within an iris or part of an iris, which may be inherited or acquired by disease or injury. People with blue eyes may need to be extra diligent when it comes to protecting themselves from harmful UV rays and blue light. [9] The earlier belief that blue eye color is a simple recessive trait has been shown to be incorrect. [93] There are also other studies that challenge these findings. Some eyes have a dark ring around the iris, called a limbal ring. [102], "Iris color" redirects here. Finland is a country with a rich history and unique culture. The stunning combination of blue eyes and sandy brown or blonde hair is much sought after in other countries, but very much the norm here. [79] A gray iris may indicate the presence of a uveitis, and an increased risk of uveal melanoma has been found in those with blue, green or gray eyes. Blue eyes aren't actually blue. The color can be from the very pale blond (caused by a patchy, scarce distribution of pigment) to reddish "strawberry" blond or golden-brownish ("sandy") blond . A chimera can have two different colored eyes just like any two siblings canbecause each cell has different eye color genes. What do the numbers on your eyeglass frames mean? But lets not get things too scientific at this point. . In fact, only about 17 percent of the world's population has blue eyes. There are two main genes on chromosome 15 that determine a person's eye color: OCA2 and HERC2. Even though there is a high number of blond and blue-eyed people living in Britain today, the highest percentage of blue eyes is recorded in South East Scotland with 57%. University of Copenhagen. Gray eyes: A rare and beautiful eye color. Green eyes: The most attractive eye color? ", "Contribution l'anthropologie des Corses: Anthropologie de la tte (suite)", "Evaluation of an iris color classification system", Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, "Subspecies comparison of the Genus: Corucia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eye_color&oldid=1140743886. [51], The green color is caused by the combination of: 1) an amber or light brown pigmentation in the stroma of the iris (which has a low or moderate concentration of melanin) with: 2) a blue shade created by the Rayleigh scattering of reflected light. MedlinePlus. Below is a list of the top six countries with the most blue-eyed people. Amber eye color is commonly found in Pakistan and the Balkan region, as well as in Southern France, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and Hungary, and in fewer numbers in the Middle East, Colombia, and the Southern Cone region. Dark brown eyes are dominant in humans. One possible explanation for the difference in the appearance of gray and blue eyes is that gray eyes have larger deposits of collagen in the stroma, so that the light that is reflected from the epithelium undergoes Mie scattering (which is not strongly frequency-dependent) rather than Rayleigh scattering (in which shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more). Having blue eyes has its advantages. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. Blue eyes are also found in southern Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, North Africa and West Asia. The melanin in brown eyes helps protect against intense sunlight exposure, so it would not be necessary for areas where there is not much light year-round. In humans, the pigmentation of the iris varies from light brown to black, depending on the concentration of melanin in the iris pigment epithelium (located on the back of the iris), the melanin content within the iris stroma (located at the front of the iris), and the cellular density of the stroma. Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character determined by two factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris. The inheritance pattern followed by blue eyes was previously assumed to be a mendelian recessive trait, however, eye color inheritance is now recognized as a polygenic trait, meaning that it is controlled by the interactions of several genes. So, there's less worry of a vitamin D deficiency for redheads. 9. [29] Brown eyes are common in Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. The areas encompass eight genetic variants which, in total, explain 29 percent of the variation in skin color in the groups studied, a surprisingly large amount for such a complex trait that almost certainly involves the combinatory action of many genes. A baby's eyes may be blue during this time, but later change color. In the U.S., that proportion is higher, at about 27%. A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. Approximately 2% of the world's population has green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. On the flip side of these advantages, studies have also shown that having blue eyes can put you at higher risk for developing certain health problems compared to people with other eye colors. Hazel eyes are most common in North Africa, the Middle East, Brazil, and Spain. All blue-eyed people have one ancestor in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. The iris is the colored part of your eye that has multiple layers. While blue eyes may be rare . Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list with 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide. There are many other possible reasons for having two different-colored eyes. For example, the film actor Lee Van Cleef was born with one blue eye and one green eye, a trait that reportedly was common in his family, suggesting that it was a genetic trait. While researchers have not pinpointed the exact cause yet, they do know that besides age, women with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes have a significantly higher chance of developing macular degeneration. Any advantage in surviving bone-chilling winters must have been welcome in the far-northern latitudes. Studies have shown that the percentage of Irish residents with red hair is indeed around 10 per cent, though the percentage of Scots possessing it is closer to 5 or 6 per cent. This one person with a genetic mutation had children, and the trait was passed to the next generation. An iris that appears golden contains some melanin even at this early age and is likely to turn from blue to green or brown as the infant ages. [5] Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the human iris or vitreous humour. [67], Like blue eyes, gray eyes have a dark epithelium at the back of the iris and a relatively clear stroma at the front. American Academy of Ophthalmology. [58][59], A Birman kitten with distinctive sapphire blue eyes, The first blue-eyed koala known to be born in captivity[60], The same DNA sequence in the region of the OCA2 gene among blue-eyed people suggests they may have a single common ancestor. Almost everyone (even people with blue or green eyes) has brown pigment in the back layer of the iris. First, one can have blue eyes as a result of a genetic mutation. Green 2.0%. [92] In another study, people with darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs. Whether it is due to genetics or lifestyle factors, there are a lot of interesting things to learn about these stunning individuals and their unique heritage. On top of that, blue eyes are not truly blue. [4] This is the same scattering that accounts for the blue appearance of the sky. Just 2.2 percent of male CEOs had blond hair, a 2005 study found. Gray eyes are common in parts of Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and among the Algerian Shawia people in Northwest Africa. SEE RELATED: How color contact lenses can make anyone's eyes blue. Iceland, the northernmost country of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of people with blue eyes. Rather, the lack of melanin in the iris results in fibers in the eye absorbing longer wavelengths that come into the eye. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? - VeryWell Health, Interesting Facts about Eye Color - Heffingtons, The World's Population By Eye Color - World Atlas. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. or brown eyes. Hum Genet. In Britain, for example, a 2014 study found that green was more prevalent than brown 30 percent to 22 percent although most were blue, 48 percent. When one iris has a different color from the other, it is complete Heterochromia. The color of our eyes depends on how much melanin is present in the iris. Red Hair Is Thicker. Blue eyes aren't even actually blue. Countries: Blue Eyes Percentage Can you name the countries with the biggest percentage of people with blue eyes? Iris color and associated pathological ocular complications: a review of epidemiologic studies. That same study suggested an intriguing possibility: Blue-eyed northern Europeans may have somehow adapted an ability to fend off seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D., also known as the winter blues). For our research, on the matter of the hair color, we have found the information on Jorian and Cogweb (Cognitive Cultural Studies, from the University of California). [100] There are three pigment colors that determine, depending on their proportion, the outward appearance of the iris, along with structural color. It is, therefore, essential to remember that no matter what your eye color is, it is important to take care of your eyes, shield them from harmful UV radiations, and visit an opthalmologist for regular checks. Get our editors daily picks straight in your inbox! If you have dark brown hair and brown eyes, you have something in common with most people around the globe. Blond (male) or blonde (female), also referred to as fair hair, is a human hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin.The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some yellowish color. While it's a very rare type of cancer, people with blue eyes are at higher risk of developing ocular uveal melanoma. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. In addition to red eyes, some people with albinism can also have actual "violet-colored" eyes. Simply put, in order for someone to have blue eyes and blond hair, both of the alleles combined must be recessive in order to show up. Home Improvement / story. [10][11] However, OCA2 gene polymorphism, close to proximal 5' regulatory region, explains most human eye-color variation. Bilirubin thus accumulates in the blood and makes the sclera and skin yellow. Quite a bit. Thats because eye color comes from melanin, the same brown pigment that gives color to our hair and skin. Different SNPs within OCA2 are strongly associated with blue and green eyes as well as variations in freckling, mole counts, hair and skin tone. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. (The name of the gene is derived from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II.) Eye color may not remain constant throughout your life. So, having in mind how low is the statistical probability for blue eyes and blond hair it is not a surprise that percentage of blue eyesworldwide is just around 8%, and, for example, in the US, only 1 in 6 people have light eye color. The extensive study on the genetic mutation was carried out by researchers at three Japanese universities; the research concluded that the genetic mutation occurred around 9,000 BC, as a result of various environmental and evolutionary factors. The authors note, "Despite brown eyes ranking at the bottom of our perceived attraction scale, approximately 79% of the world's population sports melanin-rich eyes. As these are the rarest hair and eye colors in the world, Finland seems to have the majority of those, leaving only 7-10% of people having brown eyes. The brown eyes with brown hair is one of the commonest combination in most parts of Europe. And around 10%, 5%, and 2% . Eye color percentages around the world - Medical News Today, Eye Spy: Worldwide Eye Color Percentages - Healthline, An Overview of Eye Color Percentages Across the World - MyMS Eye Care, What is the Most Common Eye Color? As the child develops, melanocytes (cells found within the iris of human eyes, as well as skin and hair follicles) slowly begin to produce melanin. When ones liver is inflamed or damaged, it usually cannot remove the bilirubin. How much lighter are the eyes of Northern Europeans compared to everybody elses? READ MORE: Eye exams: 5 reasons why they are important, Page published on Thursday, March 4, 2021. The amount of damage depends on wavelength and exposure time . Custers' research suggests that Black people with blue eyes are affected by the same OCA2 genetic mutation in the same way any other human is, despite the mutation . More than 80 percent of the inhabitants of Estonia and Scandinavian countries have blue eyes. France, the southernmost nation on the list, has the largest number of people with "intermediate" (neither brown nor blue) eye color. Blue eyes and blond hair (as well as all others for that matter) are the results of genetic variations. 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