Which Are The Rarest Eye Colours?

We often notice someone’s eyes as the first thing we notice about them as human beings, and they are one of our most distinctive features. A wide variety of eye colours are available. The most commonly recognized are brown, blue, hazel and green eyes. However, some shades are quite obscure. However, what is the rarest eye colour? As it turns out, green eyes are extremely rare, and you may be surprised to learn that violet or red eyes are actually possible as well. As we discuss the different eye colours in this blog post, we will also discuss the rarity of certain eye colours.

What determines your natural eye colour?

A person’s eye color varies depending upon the amount of melanin found in the front layer of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. Melanin is also responsible for the colour of his or her hair and skin. The amount of melanin produced can be controlled by various factors, including genetics.

An individual who has brown-colored eyes has a large amount of melanin in both the iris’s back and front. In contrast, eyes with less melanin on the front part of the iris will appear lighter due to the fact that they have less pigmentation. Thus, the more melanin in your eyes, the darker they will appear.

The pigment in brown eyes is found in every individual, regardless of the colour of the eyes, even if they appear to be a light blue color.

Get to know rare eye colors

There are two most common eye colours in the world: brown and blue, and they are the ones that come to mind immediately. But choosing the rarest eye colour is more complex. To tell the truth, the numbers are not always well defined, especially due to their rarity.

A small percentage of the world’s population has the most unique eye colors. Grey eyes are one of the rarest coloured eyes you can have. They are sometimes mistaken for blue eyes. Pink or light red eyes occur in people with albinism, although they can be found on a much smaller scale.

As can be seen from the table below, each eye color corresponds to approximately a certain percentage of the world’s population.

Five of the world’s most rare eye colors

Violet or red eyes

Having a very small amount of pigmentation in the iris can result in red or violet eyes. As a result of albinism, this eye colour occurs as a result of blood vessels which become more visible under the surface of your eyes. This condition is extremely rare, and requires greater protection from the sun for people with red or violet eyes.

Grey eyes

In contrast to blue eyes, gray eyes tend to have brown specks in the iris. Blue eyes, on the other hand, tend to have yellow or gold specks. Gray eyes do not contain much melanin, as are lighter eye colors. This is due to the high amount of collagen in the stroma, which causes them to appear gray rather than blue. In addition, blue eyes appear more vibrant and gray eyes appear somewhat cloudy.

Green eyes

Green eyes are often debated as the rarest eye color, but most people would agree that red, violet and gray eyes are far less common. A large amount of melanin is not present in green eyes, which leads to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering, where light is reflected rather than absorbed by the pigment in the eyes, which results in your eyes appearing green. Green eyes are light brown in color with a yellow, golden or orange pigmentation called lipochrome.

Amber eyes

The amber eye color is often confused with hazel eyes, however, it is actually very rare. About 5% of the population is thought to possess this eye color. Amber eyes are usually yellowish-brown in color; sometimes they may even appear golden or orange in color. The reason they are this color is because they contain a large amount of yellowish pigmentation called lipochrome.

Hazel eyes

Typically, hazel eyes have a yellowish brown color with flecks of gold, green, brown and even blue in them. There is a similar amount of melanin present in these types of eyes as in brown eyes, however the melanin is distributed differently, appearing more around the outer edge of the eye instead of the center. It is very attractive to have hazel eyes because they reflect light beautifully. The Rayleigh scattering effect influences the colour of green eyes as well.

What are the most common eye colours?

Brown eyes

Brown eyes are the most common eye color, which range in hue from dark to bright. Sometimes brown eyes can also appear black in some lights, despite the fact that this is not accurate.

Researchers have found that those with dark-brown eyes are far more likely to develop cataracts. However, some individuals contend that the association may be more due to hereditary characteristics than specific eye color. Nevertheless, regardless of your eye colour, you should ensure that you wear the proper eyewear at all times and wear a reliable pair of sunglasses to protect yourself from UV rays.

An interesting fact about newborns is that many of them are born with brown eyes rather than blue eyes.

Blue eyes

As the second most common eye color in the world, blue eyes are not the result of blue pigment, but rather, from a lack of melanin. Baby blues may increase your risk of developing conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and ocular cancer, so it is important to be aware of this. It is important to purchase appropriate eyeglasses as well as sunglasses that provide 100% UVA/B protection.

What factors can affect your eye colour?

Heterochromia is a condition that affects less than 1% of the population, where one eye appears a different colour from the other.

People with albinism usually have pale blue, violet, pink, or red eyes and suffer from a genetic condition that affects the amount of melanin they are able to produce in their skin, hair, and eyes.

There is also anisocoria, which is characterized by one pupil being larger than the other or by one eye appearing darker than the other.

In Arcus senilis, a grey, blue, or white arc of fatty deposits surrounds the cornea and is a sign of aging and high cholesterol.

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, resulting in blurry vision and possibly white or grey spots on the retina.

A hyphema is a condition that occurs when a large amount of blood gathers in the front of the eye, covering the iris and pupil and causing your eye to appear red. This is usually caused by sports injuries.

An uveitis, also known as inflammation of the eye, can be caused by an eye infection, toxins, or a sports injury. The white of the eye may appear red when the inflammation occurs.

What colour glasses suit my eye colour?

Eyes of brown, hazel, or amber are best complemented by warm colours, such as brown, tortoiseshell, or earthy green. A shiny gold frame is a perfect choice for hazel eyes with yellowy specks. However, if you would like to stand out, go for brighter tones such as blue or purple. Also, a black frame will make you appear smart and professional.

Blue eyes naturally complement blue, silver, and grey hues, while tortoiseshell, honey, or black frames will give you a tidy, everyday appearance. Blue eyes will also contrast nicely with vibrant oranges and reds.

A Green eye complements dark brown, Havana, and gold as well as pale pink, blue, or violet.

The color of Gray eyes is best complemented by pastel colors, bright patterns, or ombre frames, although black, deep blue, and purple colors will also enhance the color of gray eyes.

Is it possible to change the color of my eyes?

A coloured contact lens is a great solution if you wish to try out a particular eye colour. Perhaps you would like to know how your eyes would look when they were a distinctive grey, violet or green. You can change them according to your mood or wear them for special occasions. You will find a wide variety of different colored eye contacts available!