Hazel eyes are truly stunning because of the way their colors mix together. They have a special blend of brown, green, and gold, which makes them stand out and grab attention.
This beautiful mix of colors happens because of our genes. Our genes control the pigments in our eyes, which reflect light in different ways. The result is that hazel eyes can look a little different depending on the light, adding to their charm.
So, what makes hazel eyes so attractive? How does the science behind them work? In this blog, we will explore the interesting facts that make hazel eyes so unique.
How Common Are Hazel Eyes?
Hazel eyes are pretty uncommon, found in approximately 5% of people globally. According to the World Population Review, they are more common, with about 18% of people having hazel eyes in the United States.
They are most commonly found in people of European descent, but they can appear in individuals from all around the world.
In Europe, the prevalence of hazel eyes can differ from country to country. For example, in France, about 44% of the population has intermediate eye colors, including hazel.
In Germany, approximately 33.2% of people have intermediate eye colors.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, around 25.46% of the population shares this eye color characteristic.
These differences reflect the rich diversity of genetic backgrounds across various European regions.
What Makes Your Eye Color Hazel
Hazel eyes get their unique look because of how much melanin is in the iris and how it is spread out. Melanin is the pigment that gives color to your eyes, skin, and hair.
In hazel eyes, melanin is unevenly spread, which causes different parts of the eyes to reflect light in various ways. This is why hazel eyes have a mix of colors like brown, green, and gold.
Another important factor is the Tyndall effect. This happens when light scatters in the iris, and it helps hazel eyes change color depending on the lighting or the colors the person is wearing.
The melanin and the Tyndall effect make hazel eyes appear lively and ever-changing.
What is Unique About the Genetics of Hazel Eyes?
In our old schools, we studied genes with two or three types of alleles, dominating or recessive. If someone possesses dominant alleles, they cannot exhibit the traits of recessive alleles. Recessive alleles can only show themselves when there is no dominating one.
However, new research has declared these researches limited and given us more authentic but complex information. According to them, almost 16 genes are responsible for eye color. These genes develop color pigments in your eyes that give your eye a specific shade. Some genes show their effect in early age, while others show their impact in adulthood.
As mentioned earlier, hazel eyes get their color from a mix of genes controlling melanin. Two crucial genes, OCA2 and HERC2, play a big role in deciding how much melanin is scattered in the eye and reflects light differently.
Considering this fact, we can conclude that families with diverse eye colors have more chances to show hazel color in their newborns. Moreover, parents with green and brown eyes have more chances to have kids with hazel eyes.
Fun Facts About Hazel Color
Now that we know the background and statistics of hazel eyes, let us explore some interesting facts about them.
- No Two Hazel Eyes Are Alike: Each pair of hazel eyes is unique. The distribution of melanin in the iris and how light interacts with it ensure no two hazel-eyed individuals have the same shade or pattern.
- Hazel Eyes Change with Age: While hazel eyes do not physically change color, they may appear to shift as a person grows older.
- Celebrity Status: Hazel eyes steal the spotlight, and some of the world’s most well-known celebrities proudly show them off. Stars such as Angelina Jolie and Tyra Banks are admired not just for their talents but for their beautiful hazel eyes as well.
- Makeup Brings Out the Best: Hazel eyes offer remarkable versatility in terms of makeup. Colors like gold, bronze, green, and purple can enhance their natural tones. Even subtle eyeliner and mascara can make their multi-tonal hues pop.
All in All
In conclusion, hazel is among the rarest eye colors, with a combination of green, gold, and brown in different proportions, and the genetic facts behind it make it more unique. Hazel color is a polygenic trait that includes multiple genes, and that’s why it is often found in families with a variety of eye colors.
As hazel color has a scattered pattern of pigments and above and reflects light differently, its shades shift with surrounding colors and clothes.
It is a beautiful gift of nature to a few people. Whenever you see someone with hazel eyes, give some time to admire them.
How Eye LASIK Austin Helps You with Eye Sensitivity
Hazel eyes are undeniably beautiful, but their unique color often comes with a downside—sensitivity to light and other vision challenges. This can lead to the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Fortunately, you no longer have to hide your stunning eyes behind glasses.
At Eye LASIK Austin, we understand the importance of caring for your eyes, especially when they are as unique and sensitive as hazel eyes. Our advanced iLASIK procedure sharpens your vision and helps reduce discomfort.
With us, enjoy the world’s beauty without worrying about light sensitivity or vision problems.
FAQs
Hazel is not the rarest eye color! That title goes to green, which is unique as it only appears in about 2% of people around the globe. However, hazel is the second rarest color. After that, blue and brown complete the sequence, and brown is the most common eye color worldwide.
As we know, hazel is a combination of gold, green, and brown. This is not a perfect mix. Instead, some people have more green components, while others have more brown parts.
No hazel eyes do not change their color. Instead, when light hits them, they start reflecting different wavelengths, and that’s why it looks like their color has changed.
