What comes to mind when you think of blue eyes? Many think of them as beautiful and unique. With only 17% of the world’s population having blue eyes, they are much less common than brown eyes.
However, blue eyes can also be a sign of an underlying health condition. In this article, we will discuss 8 causes of blue eyes in pictures.
1. Genetics
One of the most common causes of blue eyes is genetics. Blue eyes are a recessive trait, meaning both parents must carry and pass on the gene for the child to have blue eyes.
If only one parent carries the gene and the other has brown eyes, the child will typically have brown eyes.
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2. Albinism
Albinism is a genetic condition that affects the production of melanin, which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. People with albinism often have very fair skin, blonde or white hair, and blue eyes due to the lack of pigment in the iris.
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3. Aging
As we age, changes in the collagen and elastin in the skin can cause the skin around the eyes to thin, making the veins underneath more visible. This can give the appearance of blue eyes, especially in those with fair skin.
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4. Eye Disease
Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, can cause changes in the color of the iris. In some cases, the iris can become lighter or appear blue due to damage or disease affecting the pigmentation.
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5. Medications
Some medications, such as prostaglandin analogs used to treat glaucoma, can cause changes in eye color. These medications can increase the amount of melanin in the iris, making it appear darker or even turning blue eyes brown.
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6. Horner’s Syndrome
Horner’s syndrome is a rare condition caused by damage to the sympathetic nerve pathway. This can cause a droopy or smaller pupil, ptosis (droopy eyelid), and a lack of sweating on one side of the face.
In some cases, the affected eye may also appear to be a lighter color, giving the appearance of blue eyes.
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7. Waardenburg Syndrome
Waardenburg syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the pigmentation and hearing. Those with Waardenburg syndrome often have very pale skin, white or gray hair, and blue eyes due to the lack of pigment.
In some cases, Waardenburg syndrome can also cause an unusual coloration of the iris, such as having blue eyes with a patch of brown or a heterochromia (having two different colored eyes).
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8. Fuch’s Heterochromic Iridocyclitis
Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis is a rare, chronic eye disease that can cause a variety of symptoms such as light sensitivity, floaters, and blurred vision. One of the most notable symptoms is a change in eye color.
The affected eye may appear lighter or have a yellowish-brown appearance, while the other eye remains the same color.
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