Can Your Eyes Change Color?

What Influences Your Eye Color

Eye color is created by a type of pigmentation called melanin. Melanin concentrates in a part of the eye called the iris, which is a circular area around your pupil that helps control how much light enters your eyes. The more melanin you have in your eyes, the darker your eyes will be. So, people with brown eyes produce more melanin, while those with blue or green eyes produce less.

The amount of melanin in your irises, and thus your eye color, is determined by your genes. There are several genes that help determine eye color, and many of them also play a role in the color of your hair and skin.

Your parents' eye colors also play a part in what color you have. It’s common to see two parents with blue eyes having children that also have blue eyes. If one parent has blue eyes and the other has brown eyes, then their child's eye color is less predictable. 

Still, it's possible for a child's eye color to veer away from what their parents have. This can happen due to other genetics in the family. For instance, a child of parents with brown eyes may have blue eyes if their grandparents have blue eyes.

If you're wondering which side of the family a newborn baby's eyes came from, you may want to wait a few months. It's completely normal for a baby's eye color to change and darken over the first few months of their life. That's because melanocytes, which are cells in the body that secrete melanin, continue to secrete in the eyes for about six months after birth. 

Temporary vs. Permanent Eye Color Changes

There is a possibility of minor changes in eye color as an adult. For example, long-term sun exposure may cause your eyes to darken slightly, while a small percentage of Caucasian people's eyes lighten as they age. For the most part, though, your eye color will not actually change, and significant changes may be a sign of a larger problem.

Here are a few reasons your eye color may appear different versus the factors that may cause it to change. 

Medical Reasons for Changes in Eye Color

There are a few medical conditions that may change the color of your eyes. These can include:

Eye Injury

A blunt blow, penetrating wound, or chemical burn can physically disrupt the iris stoma or the tiny blood vessels that nourish it, making your eye color appear different. Two things could follow:

• Red-brown iron deposits (siderosis) or white chalky calcium (chalcosis) can tint the iris. 

• The iris tissue thins, letting more light reflect from the pal posterior layer and making the eye look lighter. 

Any lasting color shift after trauma can signal hidden issues such as angle-recession glaucoma or retained foreign bodies. After an any eye injury, it’s important to seek help to ensure no long-term damage was caused.

Lisch Nodules

Lisch nodules are tiny dome-shaped, brown bumps that appear on the iris surface. Often caused by the condition neurofibromatosis, lisch nodules do not usually cause vision loss, but a cluster of nodules can make a blue or green iris appear speckled or darker than normal. Neurofibromatosis does require medical support to manage.

Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis (FHI)

Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis, or FHI, is an inflammation that occurs in some parts of the front of the eye, including the iris. One symptom of this is a loss of iris pigmentation, which may change your eye color. It may also cause cataracts, and if left untreated, can lead to glaucoma. Because the symptoms are subtle, patients may not realize anything is wrong until vision blurs from cataract or intraocular pressure (IOP) rise.

Changes in Color Due to Medication

Sveral prostaglandin-analog glaucoma drops, including lantanoprost, bimatoprost, travoprost, and unoprostone, can lead to darker eye color. These color changes caused by the medication can be permanent. These changes are often gradual, painless, and are more noticeable if used in only one eye. However, because this eye color change is not a medical concern, it’s important to continue your treatment and weigh the risks and benefits with your doctor before switching to another option.

Horner’s Syndrome

Often caused by a stroke or other injury that damaged the nerves on one side of the face, Horner’s syndrome is a rare condition that affects the pupil or iris. It could make one pupil look larger than the other, affecting the appearance of the eye color. It can also cause iris depigmentation.

Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome (ICE)

Also called ICE syndrome, this disorder can cause cells from the cornea (the clear, front layer of the eye) to move to the iris. This creates spots on the iris that affect eye color. The abnormal membrane can also seal the drainage angle, leading to aggressive secondary glaucoma that often needs surgery. Middle-aged women are most affected, and the first clue is often a subtle change in eye color.

Cosmetic Eye Color Changes

Want a different eye shade just for fun? If you want to change your eye color through cosmetic surgery, you're out of luck. While a procedure exists for cosmetic iris implants, it's not FDA-approved due to its high level of risk. However, there are a few ways you can temporarily change your eye color to match your aesthetic:

• Prescription Colored Contact Lenses: There are a variety of colored contacts available that can cover your natural color or slightly change it. Like regular contacts, it’s essential to wash and dry your hands before handling them, use fresh solution each time, and replace lenses on schedule. Also be sure that your colored contacts are fitted correctly to avoid discomfort and potential damage. 

• Makeup and Lighting: If you don’t want to use contacts, there are plenty of zero-risk hacks to make your eyes appear lighter or darker. Neutral-tone eyeshadows can make brown eyes look warmer, while plum or copper can enhance green flecks in hazel eyes. Soft-box lighting or ring lights brightens the iris and intensifies natural color in photos and video calls. Finally, digital filters can alter eye color for social media posts but remember that it’s virtual only.