Eye colour is mainly due to genetic makeup, and as many as 16 genes dictate a person’s eye colour. Most of these genes impart colour to the eyes and play a key role in transporting or storing melanin. Now, depending on the concentration of Melanin, a brown pigment that determines the colour of someone’s eyes, hair, and skin.
The higher the concentration of melanin in the eyes, the browner they will become. Eyes that are not brown do not have a higher concentration of melanin and may appear as blue or hazel eyes. When the melanin is least in the iris, it seems blue; in moderate concentration, it appears green or hazel whereas higher concentration of melanin leads to dark brown eyes or black.
Over 75 % of the population have brown eyes, making it the most prevalent eye colour type among the existing eye types segment. Eye colours that fall between dark brown and light blue extremes have varying amounts of pigment and areas without any pigment. This leads to the unique colours which we see as green, hazel, and grey.
Which cells are responsible for the Eye Colour ?
Melanocytes are specialized cells that contain a pigment called melanin and it is responsible for the pigmentation in various tissues, including the skin, hair, and eyes. Iris melanocytes determine eye color by producing melanin, affecting shades like brown, blue, green, or hazel. Melanin absorbs excess light, lowers scatter, and shields photoreceptor cells from light damage. Melanin also present in the retinal pigmented epithelium helps to protect the eyes from ultraviolet (UV) damage, protects the retina from oxidative stress and photo-oxidation and thereby contributes to the overall health and functionality of the visual system.
Difference between Brown eyes vs Hazel eyes
- Almost 80 % of the population have brown eyes, whereas 5% have hazel eyes.
- Brown eyes are more consistent, whereas hazel eyes show far more deviation and intricacy in colour and can change their colour depending on the intensity of the light.
- Brown eyes suggest a prominent genetic identity, whereas the less common hazel eyes reveal a blend of a diverse colour spectrum, suggesting a more complex genetic makeup.
Hazel eyes will have a combination of green and brown colors, the difference in dominant colors is why they can appear either mostly green or mostly brown. While all hazel eyes could be considered a combination of green and brown colours, the difference in dominant colours is why they can appear either primarily green or mostly brown. Given this, hazel eyes can often be confused with other eye colours in certain lighting conditions and different environments. For instance, Hazel eyes can sometimes be confused with amber eyes, but they are two separate eye colors.
Eye Health of Brown and Hazel Eye
Because brown and hazel eye types have different levels of melanin in their iris, eye health issues might vary depending on eye colour.
The receptivity of brown and hazel eyes is contrasted here:
Brown Eyes Greater melanin content: Brown eyes absorb more light and offer a more potent natural defence against UV rays and intense light because of their more significant melanin percentage.
Reduced risk: Compared to lighter eyes, brown eyes are typically less susceptible to UV-related eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
Hazel Eyes
Moderate melanin concentration: Hazel eyes are more vulnerable to light and UV rays because they contain less melanin
Increased risk: Compared to darker eyes, those with hazel eyes may be slightly more susceptible to UV-related eye conditions such as cataracts or macular degeneration.
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