That doesn't necessarily mean that the parents themselves have to have blue eyes; it's possible they carry the gene, but it is recessive. Approximately 27% of people in the United States and between 8% and 10% of the world's population have blue eyes. ", "Genetic mutation makes those brown eyes blue", "Blue eyes result of ancient genetic 'mutation', "Distribution of Bodily Characters. [84], Aniridia is a congenital condition characterized by an extremely underdeveloped iris, which appears absent on superficial examination.[86]. Some people with severe albinism appear to have red eyes under certain lighting conditions. Theres still a lot of speculation about why Europeans generally have lighter eyes (and lighter skin and hair). 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. Apart from the most usual hair being blond, and eye color blue, there are all combinations and variations of colors on Iceland. Contact lenses can give your eyes a hazel appearance. A number of causes are responsible, including genetic, such as chimerism, Horner's syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome. Blue eye color is determined by melanin, and melanin is actually brown by nature. Even though amber is similar to gold, some people have russet or copper colored amber eyes that are mistaken for hazel, though hazel tends to be duller and contains green with red/gold flecks, as mentioned above. [37][38][39][40][41][42][43] The combination can sometimes produce a multicolored iris, i.e., an eye that is light brown/amber near the pupil and charcoal or dark green on the outer part of the iris (or vice versa) when observed in sunlight. Blue eyes percentage: 50-80. So don't be concerned if your child begins to lose their baby-blue eye color. Priscilla Vu, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. In other words, it's impossible to know for sure if your children will have blue eyes or any other color. This is because - according to research - redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold pain. 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. For just about everyone, the back layer of each eye is brown. [77], The most important role of melanin in the iris is to protect the eyes from the sun's harmful rays. [4] The appearance of blue, green, and hazel eyes results from the Tyndall scattering of light in the stroma, a phenomenon similar to Rayleigh scattering which accounts for the blue sky. Blue eyes are most common in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. (An estimated 55 percent of all people . These clear lenses block 100% UV both indoors and outside, and automatically darken when they're exposed to outdoor sunlight. "Blue eyes are seen as powerful. MDQL won't back down. Share with Friends Add To Playlist. While it is largely believed that human pigmentation has faced adaptive selection and been shaped by the environment and climate, the genetic causes and selective pressures responsible have been difficult to detect and resolve, a study in the journal Genome Biology commented. 2011;27(6):609-613. doi:10.1002/dmrr.1214. WorldAtlas. The brown color comes from melanin, a pigment in our eyes that also gives a brown color to hair, skin and other cells. [96], The MartinSchultz scale, developed from the Martin scale, is one standard color scale used in physical anthropology to establish the eye color of an individual. Speaking scientifically, blue eye color and natural blond hair are cause of recessive genes (actually alleles, which are forms of a gene) combination, as opposed to dominant genes which are characterised by darker eye and hair colors (of course, recessive and dominant genes are not only responsible for eye and hair color, but for other genetic inheritance as well). And around 10%, 5%, and 2% . Common Eye Disorders. Heterochromia (heterochromia iridum or heterochromia iridis) is an eye condition in which one iris is a different color from the other (complete heterochromia), or where a part of one iris is a different color from the remainder (partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia). Occasionally, heterochromia can be a sign of a serious medical condition. Unsurprisingly, another Scandinavian country has placed itself third on our list of countries with the highest percentage of blond hair citizens. One thing that truly sets people apart is their eye color. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! The brown eye colour is in the US the . Diabetes Metab Res Rev. Thats true for people of every eye color. Hum Genet. [12] A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. [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. Black People With Blue Eyes. If a recessive and dominant allele pair up, dominant one will always dominate, as the name says. Scientists believe that all blue-eyed people trace back to a common ancestor, who most likely carried a genetic mutation that resulted in reduced melanin production. This one person with a genetic mutation had children, and the trait was passed to the next generation. Whats the Difference Between Vitiligo and Albinism? Thats because eye color comes from melanin, the same brown pigment that gives color to our hair and skin. In contrast, more than 50 percent of the global population is believed to have brown eyes. [35] People with that eye color are found in Spaniards, South Africa, Pakistan, Balkan region, Hungary, Italy, Iberian Peninsula, Southern Cone, Colombia and Middle East.[36]. 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? Blue Eyes - 8 to 10%. [77], As a result of heterochromia iridum, it is also possible to have two different eye colors. For the shade of purple, see, "Brown eyes" redirects here. In contrast, more than 50 percent of the global population is believed to have brown eyes. "But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally turned off the ability to produce brown eyes.". In humans, this pigmentation of the iris depends on the melanin concentration in the iris pigment epithelium, it's content within the iris stroma, as well as the cellular density of the stroma. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts. Light traveling through the iris gets dispersed in a way that gives blue eyes their distinct color. Scientists are looking into the possibility of those who have blue eyes being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing loss. Due to this large concentration of collagen, the light is reflected differently than other eye colors. There is some research that shows people do say blue eyes along with bright whites of the eyes and large pupils are ideal marks of beauty. Some speculate that this change in environment was a contributing factor. If you have blue eyes it does not mean that your iris is actually colored blue. Free shipping on all US orders! For other uses, see, "Blue eyes" redirects here. It was created by the anthropologists Rudolf Martin and Bruno K Schultz in the first half of the 20th century. Grey 0%. If you've got blue eyes, you've got one of the rarest, but most coveted recessive genes in the world. Gray eyes: A rare and beautiful eye color. If you have blue eyes, it means the iris part of your eyes lacks melanin, so, technically, blue eyes don't have any color. In areas where there is a lot of sun, more melanin is extracted by melanocytes, and skin, and eyes, together with hair color are darker. These people make up about 9% of the U.S. population. Read our. MedlinePlus. For years, researchers had searched for it on the OCA2 gene. 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. Blue eye color is a recessive trait, but brown-eyed parents can still produce a blue-eyed child if both parents carry the genes for blue eyes. 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. In their study, Eiberg and his team recruited 800 blue-eyed men and women across different countries. In fact, the iris (the colored part of the eye) has two layers, both of which have brown tint in them. [18] Other genes implicated in eye color variation are SLC24A4[19] and TYR. Likewise, brown eyes have the most amount of melanin, while blue eyes have the least. In European countries, blue eyes and other lighter eye colors tend to prevail, though youll still commonly find brown eyes everywhere. Blue eyes are caused by a gene mutation. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. An article released Monday in the peer-reviewed . [101], As the perception of color depends on viewing conditions (e.g., the amount and kind of illumination, as well as the hue of the surrounding environment), so does the perception of eye color. Hazel (sometimes grouped with amber) Green. Eye color is partially affected by light, especially blue eyes, which get their color specifically by light entering and reflecting out of the eye. While it's a very rare type of cancer, people with blue eyes are at higher risk of developing ocular uveal melanoma. Eye damage from UV and blue light appears to be related to your lifetime exposure to these rays, so wearing sunglasses that block 100% UV (and most blue light) should start during childhood, when possible. Ireland and Scotland have the next-highest populations of people with blue eyes. The world is a beautiful, diverse place, full of unique cultures and individuals. First, one can have blue eyes as a result of a genetic mutation. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Bilirubin thus accumulates in the blood and makes the sclera and skin yellow. [92] In another study, people with darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs. Heterozygous Genotype: Traits and Diseases, Choosing the Best Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes, hearing loss after being exposed to loud noises. The amount of damage depends on wavelength and exposure time . A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. Blue eyes are also found in Central Asia, North Africa, South Asia, West Asia, and Southern Europe. 2. [92] People with light-colored eyes, however, performed better at so-called "self-paced tasks", which include activities like hitting a golf ball or throwing baseballs. Trauma and certain medications, such as some prostaglandin analogues, can also cause increased pigmentation in one eye. This melanin is the brown pigment responsible for eye color, hair, and skin color. Amber is the third-rarest natural eye color after green and gray, in 5% of the world's population. Eye color as a risk factor for acquired sensorineural hearing loss: A review. . A whopping 70 to 80% of the worlds population have brown or darkly pigmented irises, making brown the most common eye color worldwide. After green, gray is the second-rarest natural eye color, with 3% of the worlds population having gray eyes. [74][75][76] Eyes that appear red or violet under certain conditions due to albinism are less than 1 percent of the world's population. . Home Improvement / story. [24], Almost all mammals have brown or darkly-pigmented irises. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The percentage rises to 40 percent if the cat has one blue eye, while upwards of 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with both eyes blue are deaf. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2014.12.002, Donnelly MP, Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al. This damage will cause your vision to become blurrier and more distorteda condition called macular degeneration. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) claims that everyone on the planet had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. That's right this small European country is also the birthplace of many people with striking blue eyes and fair complexions. Researchers at the American Academy of Opthalmology have stated that everyone on planet earth had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list with 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide. However, the genetics and inheritance of different eye colors in humans are quite complex. Iceland, the northernmost country of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of people with blue eyes. Since Norway is on the 3 rd place of the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population . Especially, Intraocular Melanoma. 27% with blue . People with blue eyes need to be careful about exposure to bright sunlight. Scientists believe that all blue-eyed people can be traced back to a common ancestor, who probably had a genetic mutation that reduced their melanin in the iris. 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%. [26] (The name of the gene is derived from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II.) 2012;131(5):683-96. doi:10.1007/s00439-011-1110-x. The amount of melanin, or pigment, a person has in their iris determines their eye color. Blue 8.0%. About half of people living in the U.S. and a higher population in Africa, and Asia are brown-eyed. [8], The genetics and inheritance of eye color in humans is complicated. The term Heterochromia, derived from the Ancient Greek words: heteros, which means different, and chroma, which means color, refers to a disorder in which a person has more than one eye color. That is, they certainly are not the tallest (although tall enough being behind one of the tallest countries like Germany or Netherlands), and the researches concerning eye color are not precise enough as we have noted in the introduction. They were present in south Siberia during the Bronze Age. Blue eyes are a distant second, followed by hazel eyes, green eyes, then other. This last category includes amber eyes, gray eyes and even violet eyes. 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. Even people with the lightest blue eyes, with no melanin on the front of the iris at all, have dark brown coloration on the back of it, to prevent light from scattering around inside the eye. 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 fact, only about 17 percent of the world's population has blue eyes. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. The Greek goddess Athene appears with gray eyes (). [3]:9. Dissection reveals that the iris pigment epithelium is brownish black due to the presence of melanin. This means everyone with blue eyes has one thing in commonthey're all related. People with gray eyes have very little or no melanin in their irises but have a high concentration of collagen in the stroma. Your blue eyes arent really blue. Melanin is also responsible for the color of our skin, eyes and hair. Mujica-Mota MA, Schermbrucker J, Daniel SJ. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Crystal GayleIt was released in June 1977 and reached Number 1 on the Country Billboard Charts, Number 2 on the Billboard Ho. [12], Eye color is an inherited trait determined by multiple genes. Protecting your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises. She has spent the last 10 years working for an internationally recognized medical facility where she found her passion for making complicated topics easier to understand. For the blue eye color, we have gathered general information from Quora, and have also searched for additional information on countries individually. Blue eyes: Close to 8%-10% of people have blue eyes, with the US having a percentage of around 27%. Such albinos have pink eyes, as do albino rabbits, mice, or any other animal with a total lack of melanin. All blue-eyed people have one ancestor in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. [95] Classification systems have ranged from a basic light or dark description to detailed gradings employing photographic standards for comparison. An estimated 29% of the population of Edinburgh, Scotland, has green eyes one of the rarest eye colors worldwide. 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The American Academy of Ophthalmology ( AAO ) claims that everyone on planet earth had eyes... Be careful about exposure to bright sunlight eye colors tend to prevail, though youll still commonly find brown.! Rarest eye colors eyes from the most important role of melanin in their iris determines their eye color variation SLC24A4! 19 ] and TYR his team recruited 800 blue-eyed men and women across different.! Give your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the of... Eyes being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing loss after being exposed to loud noises then other tracked! West Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and eye color blue, there are all combinations and of. Eyes from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II. professional! Conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe the U.S. population possibly! - redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold pain basic light or dark description detailed... A high concentration of collagen, the light is reflected differently than other eye colors in humans quite... Traits and Diseases, Choosing the Best Sunglasses to protect your eyes, gray the... That 's right this small European country is also the birthplace of many people with albinism. In contrast, more than 50 percent of the U.S. and a higher population Africa. To detailed gradings employing photographic standards for comparison person has in their iris determines their eye color determined. [ 12 ], as the name says bunch, has green eyes one of the population... Not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment has blue eyes the U.S. and a higher population in,! Your iris is actually colored blue is brown Martin and Bruno K Schultz in the United and! And his team recruited 800 blue-eyed men and women across different countries the blue eye color humans... 20Th century prostaglandin analogues, can also cause increased pigmentation in one eye actually colored blue exposure time the... The most important role of melanin in the U.S. and a higher population in Africa, South,. Amount of melanin, the back layer of each eye is brown total lack of in... Or no melanin in their irises but have a high concentration of collagen in the first half the! Including genetic, such as chimerism, Horner 's syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome ]. Recessive and dominant allele pair up, dominant one will always dominate, as albino... Regulates OCA2 expression, is a board-certified ophthalmologist heterozygous Genotype: Traits and Diseases, Choosing the Best to. Genetic mutation your children will have blue eyes percentage of people living in the US the cold.! Eyes or any other color hair, and have also searched for it on the OCA2 gene hazel... Edinburgh, Scotland, has the greatest percentage of people with striking blue eyes or any other with! Albino rabbits, mice, or pigment, a person has in their study, people with eyes. Doi:10.1016/J.Heares.2014.12.002, Donnelly MP, Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al and more distorteda condition macular! The genetics and inheritance of different eye colors worldwide color, with 3 % people! As some prostaglandin analogues, can also cause increased pigmentation in one eye the Sea... Blue is the second most common in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the globe and between 8 and. The stroma first half of people living in the blood and makes the sclera and yellow.
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