The Claim: Eye Color Can Change as We Age (Published 2005) (2024)

Health|The Claim: Eye Color Can Change as We Age

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/health/the-claim-eye-color-can-change-as-we-age.html

Advertisem*nt

Continue reading the main story

Supported by

Continue reading the main story

Really?

  • Send any friend a story

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

By Anahad O'Connor

THE CLAIM -- Eye color can change as we age.

THE FACTS -- It can bend light, bring the world into focus, and next to the human brain may be our most complicated organ. But for many people the most intriguing feature of the human eye is simply its color.

Can it really change for no apparent reason?

In most people, the answer is no. Eye color fully matures in infancy and remains the same for life. But in a small percentage of adults, eye color can naturally become either noticeably darker or lighter with age.

What determines eye color is the pigment melanin. Eyes that have a lot of it in the connective tissue at the front of the iris, called the stroma, are darker, while those that have less tend to be lighter.

The levels of melanin generally remain the same throughout life, but a few things can change them permanently.

The first is a handful of ocular diseases like pigmentary glaucoma. Another is a condition called heterochromia, or multicolored eyes, which affects about 1 percent of the population and is often caused by traumatic injuries. An example of this can be seen in the rock star David Bowie, who attributes his contrasting eye colors, hazel and light blue, to a blow to the face as a child.

The third cause appears to be genetics. A study in 1997, for example, looked at thousands of twins and found that 10 percent to 15 percent of the subjects had gradual changes in eye color throughout adolescence and adulthood, which occurred at nearly identical rates in identical twins.

THE BOTTOM LINE -- Eyes can change color in some people because of genetics or injury. ANAHAD O'CONNOR

Really? scitimes@nytimes.com

Advertisem*nt

Continue reading the main story

The Claim: Eye Color Can Change as We Age (Published 2005) (2024)

FAQs

Can eye color change as we age? ›

In most people, the answer is no. Eye color fully matures in infancy and remains the same for life. But in a small percentage of adults, eye color can naturally become either noticeably darker or lighter with age. What determines eye color is the pigment melanin.

Why does fushi's eyes change color? ›

non-spoiler tl;dr: The change in eye color represents how Fushi is directly carrying out the boy's wishes. For example, in this first case, experiencing the sweet taste of fruit. More explanation below. Manga spoiler warning.

Do hazel eyes change color with age? ›

Conversely, someone born with hazel eyes might see their irises get darker as they grow older. Eye colors do slightly change with age, but this should be a gradual transition.

What can cause eye color to change? ›

The colors in your environment, including lighting and your clothes, can give the illusion of eye color change. "The factors that can cause eyes to change colors—or appear to have different colors—include genes, diseases, medications and trauma," said Omar Chaudhary, MD, an ophthalmologist in Potomac, Md.

Can eye color change after age 2? ›

Conclusion: Most individuals achieve stable eye color by 6 years of age. However, a subpopulation of 10% to 15% of white subjects have changes in eye color throughout adolescence and adulthood in the eye color range that can be expected to reflect changes in iridial melanin content or distribution.

Can your eyes change from blue to green as you get older? ›

Sometimes, a change in eye color is just a simple part of aging and is harmless. However, there are a few things that can permanently change melanin levels. Ocular diseases, such as pigmentary glaucoma, can change melanin levels. Genetics could also cause eye color to change over time.

Is Fushi a guy or a girl? ›

Creation. Manga artist Yosh*toki Ōima created Fushi. Fushi was originally going to be female, but a colleague suggested a male protagonist in order to create a different appeal. Ōima wanted to make the protagonist neutral, and said she prefers neutral female characters.

Who is Fushi's love interest? ›

Fushi. Hayase had developed an obsessive love for Fushi ever since they first met. Her abnormal love was so strong that she would kill anyone that Fushi was close to in order to have Fushi to herself, and request that Fushi kills her so she could stay with him forever.

How old is Fushi anime? ›

Fushi
Profile
SpeciesImmortal
StatusAlive
SexVarious, depending on its form
AgeRenril Arc: ~233 years (According to Kahaku) New World Arc: ~800 years (According to books about him) Era of Wishes Arc: ~1300 years
17 more rows

Are grey eyes rare? ›

Close to 3% of the world's population have gray eyes. People with gray eyes have little or no melanin in their irises, but they have more collagen in a part of the eye called the stroma. The light scatters off the collagen in a way that makes the eyes appear gray.

Are black colored eyes rare? ›

While some people may appear to have irises that are black, they don't technically exist. People with black-colored eyes instead have very dark brown eyes that are almost indistinguishable from the pupil. In fact, brown eyes are even the most common eye color in newborn babies.

What is the prettiest eye color? ›

We found that green is the most popular lens colour, with brown coming in a close second, despite it being one of the most common eye colours. Although blue and hazel are seen as the most attractive eye colours for men and women they are surprisingly the least popular.

What foods can change your eye color naturally? ›

Organic honey: Regular consumption of honey could make your eye hue lighter and brighter. Fish: Consuming fish can increase your eye color strength and depending on the consumption, this changes could be permanent. Olive oil: Many people believe that adding olive oil to your diet could change the shade of your eyes.

Why are my brown eyes turning blue? ›

The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.

Can eye color change after age 3? ›

Research has found that most children's eyes will stop changing color when they're around 6 years old. But about 15% of people have changes in eye color all their life because of their genetic makeup‌.

Which parent determines eye color? ›

Your children inherit their eye colors from you and your partner. It's a combination of mom and dad's eye colors – generally, the color is determined by this mix and whether the genes are dominant or recessive. Every child carries two copies of every gene – one comes from mom, and the other comes from dad.

Why are my eyes getting lighter as I age? ›

However, eye color changes can also occur as a person ages. Those with lighter color eyes – especially Caucasians – may see their eyes lighten over time. The pigment slow degrades over time, resulting in less color. Since melanin plays a role in eye color, exposure to the sun can lead to eye color changes.

Can eye color change naturally? ›

Eye color can change over time, but only slightly. The eye color of most babies will darken in the first few years of life. During this time, the body produces a darker pigment, known as melanin. Expansion or contraction of the iris can also lead to minute changes in eye color.

Do eyes change with age? ›

A few common changes for older adults include: Losing the ability to see up close. Having trouble distinguishing colors, such as blue from black. Needing more time to adjust to changing levels of light.

Does honey lighten eyes? ›

Some people believe that applying a mixture of honey and water can change your eye color over time. There's no evidence to suggest that this home remedy would work. It's unlikely that honey will penetrate deeper than the outer layers of your cornea, where there is no pigment.

Does Fushi get pregnant? ›

Fushi probably transforms the first turtle he saw in his immortal life, unaware that she was about to lay her eggs. And then, by pure instinct, he went to the beach where he lay his eggs. So yes, technically Fushi has children.

Who will marry Fushi? ›

Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers for the first half of To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 6. With Kahaku proposing marriage to Fushi at the end of the last episode, To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 6 picks up right where that left off.

What was the nameless boys name? ›

Joel Henderson became Poor Nameless Boy on stage in order to set himself apart from the other musicans in his family.

Who did Hayase have a child with? ›

Hayase refused to let her infatuation with Fushi die with her. In this series, once the spirit, Fye, leaves the body, it has its own will and can be reincarnated in different forms. Before Hayase died, she had a daughter, who was pregnant with Hisame.

Did Fushi lay eggs? ›

The turtle hatchlings are children of Fushi, who laid eggs while in the form of a mother sea turtle.

Who is Fushi shipped with? ›

Also Known As. KahaFushi is the non-binary ship between Kahaku and Fushi from the To Your Eternity fandom.

What anime has a demon name Fushi? ›

The second season of the anime series To Your Eternity was announced in the final episode of the first season in August 2021. The plot continues the immortal being Fushi as he encounters mankind after decades of self-exile.

Who did Fushi revive? ›

After awakening five centuries into the modern era, Fushi resurrects the eleven spirits following him, including his closest friends March, Gugu, Tonari Dalton and Bonichen. The Beholder transforms himself into a twelve-year-old boy, calling himself Satoru.

Is the Beholder a God? ›

The Beholder, even after his reincarnation, has the near godlike ability to control and alter anything tangible, even human bodies.

Do red eyes exist? ›

Red or Violet Eyes

When light reflects off of the blood vessels in eyes that lack typical pigmentation, the eyes appear violet or red. Astonishing as it may seem, these eye colors occur naturally—and are extremely rare.

Are purple eyes real? ›

Unbelievable as it may seem, the answer is yes—natural purple eyes do exist. Purple eyes are also commonly referred to as “violet eyes,” as they are typically a light shade. For most people, this striking eye color can only be achieved with the help of colored contacts.

How rare is red eyes? ›

Only 1% of people have pink and pale red eyes; they are typically albinos. Albinism happens when there is a problem with one of the genes inherited from the mother. Like red eyes, heterochromia is rare and effects less than 1% of the population.

Do silver eyes exist? ›

Silver eye color is rare, although many consider silver eyes to be a variation of blue eye color. Like blue eyes, silver eyes are the result of a very low amount of pigmentation in the eye, which reflects a gray-silver appearance.

What is the rarest skin color? ›

The rarest skin color in the world is believed to be the white from albinism, a genetic mutation that causes a lack of melanin production in the human body. Albinism affects 1 in every 3,000 to 20,000 people.

What is the rarest eye color for a redhead? ›

Red hair and green eye genes are simply not as common in populations as other hair and eye colors. One study found that the red hair-green eyes genetic combination is one of the rarest, at -0.14 correlation. Having red hair and blue eyes is even rarer.

Did Elizabeth Taylor have violet eyes? ›

Did Elizabeth Taylor have violet eyes? These days, thanks to colored contact lenses, anyone can have violet-colored eyes . Taylor didn't come by her purple peepers that way; the first tinted contact lenses weren't commercially available until 1983. Taylor's eye color was the real deal.

Can a black person have blue eyes? ›

Blue is the second most common eye color globally, with an estimated 8 to 10 % of people having blue eyes. A majority of these people are of European descent, however, Black people can be born with blue eyes even though it's pretty rare.

Who has purple eyes? ›

Violet Eyes

This color is most often found in people with albinism. It is said that you cannot truly have violet eyes without albinism. Mix a lack of pigment with the red from light reflecting off of blood vessels in the eyes, and you get this beautiful violet!

Who has most beautiful eyes in the world? ›

​​Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Penelope Cruz: Celebs with most beautiful eyes​
  • ​Aishwarya Rai Bachchan​ The former Miss World is famous for her blue-green eyes. ...
  • ​Penelope Cruz ​ ...
  • ​Olivia Wilde​ ...
  • Mila Kunis. ...
  • ​Megan Fox​ ...
  • ​Emma Stone​ ...
  • ​Charlize Theron​ ...
  • ​Angelina Jolie​
Apr 9, 2023

What is the most innocent eye color? ›

Blue eyes also represent innocence and carefree. Brown eyes are a more mature eye color and represent stability, security and strength.

What eye color is most sensitive to light? ›

Lighter-colored eyes have less pigment to protect against sun damage and UV radiation compared to darker-colored eyes. This means that people with green, hazel, or blue eyes are more sensitive to light and more susceptible to UV damage.

What makes your eye color brighter? ›

When your pupils shrink or dilate, the color of your eyes may seem to change. For example, if your pupils widen, not as much of your irises are exposed, and the remaining irises look darker. On the other hand, when your pupils are smaller, your eye color may appear lighter.

What foods make eyes whiter? ›

Your eyes will stay white thanks to the fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and antioxidants. Eating nuts like almonds, walnuts, and peanuts, along with other green, leafy foods like spinach, may improve eye health. Your liver will be detoxified by the fruits and veggies, keeping your eyes healthy and clean.

Can you permanently change your eye color? ›

Permanent changes to eye color can be achieved through iris implant surgery, corneal pigmentation, and laser eye color change. Iris Implant Surgery is a procedure that inserts a prosthetic iris into the eye. It was originally developed to treat iris defects such as albinism and aniridia.

Why was I born with blue eyes but now they are brown? ›

Babies often do not have much pigment in their irises when they are born. This is why their eyes can look very blue. More pigment accumulates in the iris over the first few months of a child's life and blue eyes can become less blue or even turn completely brown.

Can you turn brown eyes into blue eyes? ›

Laser Surgery

This procedure changes your eye color by destroying the pigment, or color, cells in your iris. When they go away, brown eyes look blue. That's because blue eyes don't have any pigment. It can only be done on brown eyes.

Why are my brown eyes getting lighter? ›

As they are exposed to light, melanin production increases, causing the color of their eyes to shift. However, eye color changes can also occur as a person ages. Those with lighter color eyes – especially Caucasians – may see their eyes lighten over time. The pigment slow degrades over time, resulting in less color.

Why do brown eyes turn GREY with age? ›

The cornea is a clear dome over the front of the eye that is usually quite clear as a youth. With aging or high blood lipid levels its clarity may change causing a cloudy appearance that the patient or observer may call "gray." Hence a brown or blue eye may turn gray.

Can dark eyes turn blue? ›

The changes are always going to go from light to dark, not the reverse,” Jaafar says. “If you have brown early on, they're not going to become blue.” What's more, about 10 percent of babies will continue to experience changes in eye color (albeit subtle) until they're adults.

How rare are grey eyes? ›

Close to 3% of the world's population have gray eyes. People with gray eyes have little or no melanin in their irises, but they have more collagen in a part of the eye called the stroma. The light scatters off the collagen in a way that makes the eyes appear gray.

Why did my blue eyes turn green? ›

It's completely normal to see blue become brown, hazel, or even green as they get a little older. This color transition can take anywhere from a few months to three years to run its course.

How rare is it for a black person to have blue eyes? ›

African-Americans with blue eyes are not unheard of, but they are pretty rare. There are lots of ways for this to happen. Some possible ways an African-American person might have ended up with blue eyes are: Caucasian relatives in their ancestry (the most likely reason)

Why do old people's eyes turn blue? ›

A blue/white/gray arc or ring around the irises of your eyes is called arcus senilis if you're 50 to 60 years old or older. It's seen as a normal part of aging.

Can brown eyes turn black? ›

Eye color can change over time, but only slightly. The eye color of most babies will darken in the first few years of life. During this time, the body produces a darker pigment, known as melanin. Expansion or contraction of the iris can also lead to minute changes in eye color.

Can hazel eyes turn blue? ›

Hazel eyes can often appear to change colors more than other eye colors. Because they contain a variety of pigments, not just a solid hue, they can look very different under different lighting. But, again, your iris itself isn't actually changing color.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6172

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.