Everything You Want To Know About Eye Color

Have you ever wondered about what gives your eyes their color? Or what part of the eye is colored? And which eye colors are the most, and least, common? The optometrist at Tropicana/215 Fwy has the answers to these and many other questions you may have about the health of your eyes. Our comprehensive examination is the best way to protect your vision as it adjusts and changes over time.

The part of the eye called the iris gets its color from a pigment known as melanin. Different amounts of melanin from one person to the next results in different eye colors. Melanin is known to protect our eyes from sun damage, which may be why people living in hotter places around the globe are more likely to have brown eyes. 

It’s widely believed that at one time, all humans had brown eyes until a gene change led to a line of descendants being born with eyes that produce less melanin.

In the United States, brown is the most common eye color, representing nearly half the population. Green is the least common, followed by hazel and blue.

The eye color of babies can change during the first year of life because that’s when the cells that produce melanin are most active. Once a child's eye color is set during infancy, it cannot naturally change to a completely different shade.

If you have any questions or concerns about your eyes, please schedule a visit today with the optometrist at Tropicana/215 Fwy. We’ll check the clarity of your vision, the way your eyes move and focus, and evaluate the health of the eyes and surrounding tissue. We’ll measure whether your vision has changed since the previous visit and prescribe refractive lenses if needed. Trust us to provide top care for your family’s eyesight, with friendly, attentive service and latest diagnostic equipment. Contact us today!