Can Your Eyes Change Color?

What is the unique eye color you’ve seen?

Hazel? Deep blue? Brown with an almost golden ring?

Eye color is a unique part of our personal identity and is one of the first things people see when they first meet us.

In this blog, we’ve got our eyes on your eyes as we talk about some of the common questions we get here in the office.

Can Your Eyes Change Color?

Your eyes are the color they are because of a pigmentation called melanin.

Melanin is the same pigmentation that gives our hair and skin their unique color. So, like our skin, with increased exposure to sunlight, the color of your irises may appear darker than normal.

So the answer is “sort of.”

Can they change from brown to green for example? No, Could they change from a Light Green to a Darker Green? Sure!

But we’d encourage you not to look directly into the sun or leave your eyes open the next time you’re in a tanning booth. Just like you wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your skin and hair, it’s a good idea to wear a comfortable pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Can Your Eyes Change Color With Age?

Have you ever noticed a newborn's eyes being a unique shade of blue?

That's because their bodies (and consequently their eyes) haven’t gathered enough melanin yet. It’s not until a few months old that their eye color begins to set in. The color of your eyes will depend on your genes.

After that, as we mentioned in the section above, there really isn’t that much of a change in your eye color.

However, as you get older and you notice that one section of your iris (the colored part of your eye) is a different color, you may have something called heterochromia.

What is Heterochromia?

Heterochromia refers to when the colors of your individual eyes are different from each other.

There are different versions of heterochromia: partial and central.

Partial heterochromia is when different parts of your irises are different colors. Imagine hazel eyes with a little pocket of brown or green off the side. Central heterochromia is when your isis has colored rings in it.

Some people are born with heterochromia and it has no effect on their optical health. There are situations where an adult can develop the condition after an injury or surgery to the eye or developing something like a tumor or glaucoma.

If you’ve noticed rings in your eye or discoloration in a section of your iris, give us a call. The sooner you can get checked out, the better your vision can be.

If you have any questions about your eye health or issues with your lenses, feel free to give us a call to book an appointment! We look forward to seeing you!