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. Eye color can change during infancy and early childhood as pigment develops, but once you reach adulthood, your natural iris color is generally stable. A noticeable or lasting change later in life may be worth discussing with an eye doctor.

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. 

Your eyes can sometimes appear lighter, darker, or slightly different in color even when the pigmentation of your iris has not actually changed. Common reasons include: 

• Lighting: Bright sunlight, dim rooms, and different types of indoor lighting can emphasize different tones within the iris. Moving between bright Kansas sunlight and indoor lighting, for example, may make lighter-colored eyes look noticeably different. 

• Pupil size: Your pupils naturally get larger in low light and smaller in bright conditions. Because this changes how much of the iris is visible, your eye color may appear slightly different. 

• Clothing and makeup: Colors near your face can bring out certain shades already present in your eyes. Blue, green, gold, or brown tones may appear more prominent depending on what you are wearing. 

• Photos and screens: Camera exposure, flash, filters, white balance, and screen settings can all affect how eye color appears in pictures or videos. 

• Redness or irritation: When the whites of your eyes become red or irritated, the increased contrast may make your iris appear brighter or different in color even though the iris itself has not changed. 

These temporary differences are usually related to appearance rather than an actual change in pigmentation. If one eye develops a new or lasting color change, or the change occurs along with pain, redness, vision changes, or an unusual-looking pupil, schedule an eye exam. 

Medical Reasons for Changes in Eye Color

True changes in eye color during adulthood are uncommon, but certain eye conditions, injuries, and medications can affect the appearance or pigmentation of the iris. Possible causes include: 

• Eye injury or trauma: Bleeding, inflammation, or other changes after an injury can make an eye appear darker or different in color. 

• Inflammation inside the eye: Conditions such as uveitis can affect the iris or pupil and may cause one eye to look different from the other. 

• Certain glaucoma medications: Some prescription glaucoma eye drops can gradually increase brown pigmentation in the iris. 

• Changes in the iris: Loss or redistribution of pigment can lead to a noticeable difference in color between the eyes. 

• Corneal or lens changes: Conditions affecting structures in front of or behind the iris, such as corneal clouding or cataracts, may make the eye appear lighter, cloudy, or otherwise different without actually changing the iris pigment. 

• Less common eye or neurological conditions: Disorders affecting the iris, pupil, or nerves controlling the eye can sometimes result in a new difference between the appearance of the two eyes. 

Because several conditions can produce similar-looking changes, it can be difficult to determine the cause by appearance alone. If your eye color changes unexpectedly, particularly in just one eye, an eye exam can help determine whether an underlying eye-health issue is responsible. 

When Should You See an Eye Doctor About an Eye Color Change?

A temporary difference caused by lighting or pupil size is generally different from a new, persistent change in the appearance of one or both eyes. Schedule an eye evaluation if you notice:

• A new or lasting change in the color of one eye 

• A new difference in color between your two eyes 

• A change that develops after an eye injury 

• A pupil that suddenly looks different in size or shape 

• Eye-color changes after starting a prescription eye medication 

• Redness, light sensitivity, or ongoing eye discomfort along with the change 

• Blurred vision or another change in how well you can see 

Some symptoms may require more immediate attention. Seek prompt eye care for a sudden eye-color or appearance change accompanied by significant eye pain, sudden vision loss or changes, bleeding after an injury, chemical exposure, or other severe symptoms.  

The EyeDoctors Optometrists provides comprehensive and urgent eye care at locations throughout Kansas. If you've noticed an unexplained change in your eye color, pupil, or vision, an optometrist can examine your eyes and help determine the appropriate next steps. 

How to Achieve Safe 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. If you’re interested in colored contacts, schedule a contact lens exam at The EyeDoctors Optometrists to get a prescription and ensure your lenses fit properly. 

• 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.

How The EyeDoctors Optometrists Evaluates Changes in Eye Color

If your eye color truly seems to have changed, an eye exam can help determine whether the difference is simply visual or related to the health of your eye. Your optometrist may ask when the change began, whether it affects one or both eyes, and whether you have experienced an injury, started a new medication, or noticed other symptoms.  

Depending on your needs, an evaluation at The EyeDoctors Optometrists may include:

• Vision testing to identify changes in how clearly you see. 

• An eye health examination to evaluate the iris and other structures of the eye. 

• Eye pressure testing when appropriate to screen for conditions such as glaucoma. 

• Additional imaging or diagnostic testing if your eye doctor finds something that requires a closer look. 

A comprehensive eye exam can help distinguish a harmless difference in appearance from an eye condition that may require monitoring or treatment. The EyeDoctors Optometrists offers comprehensive eye care at more than 20 locations throughout Kansas.