One mutation 10,000 years ago has today resulted in almost 200 million pairs of blue eyes, and people with blue eyes have more blue-eyed children. [22] Observing the iris of an infant from the side using only transmitted light with no reflection from the back of the iris, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of low levels of melanin. It's completely normal to see blue become brown, hazel, or even green as they get a little older. In the US, 45% of people have brown eyes, while the rarest eye color is green only 9% of people in the US have green eyes. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) claims that everyone on the planet had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. Having blue eyes has its advantages. Are Blue-Eyed People More Likely to Get Macular Degeneration? The macula, which is at the retina's center, is susceptible to damage as you age. Have you ever wondered which the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population are? Some eyes have a dark ring around the iris, called a limbal ring. As that generation had children and moved around, the blue eye mutation continued to spread across many parts of the globe. Even people with the lightest blue eyes, with no melanin on the front of the iris at all, have dark brown coloration on the back of it, to prevent light from scattering around inside the eye. "[55][56][57], Blue eyes are predominant in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. Denmark - Approximately 60%. Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) Heterozygous Genotype: Traits and Diseases, Choosing the Best Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes, hearing loss after being exposed to loud noises. "Why Edinburgh residents are likely to be blue-eyed", "Genetic determinants of hair, eye and skin pigmentation in Europeans", "Eye Color Percentage for Across the Globe", "Is there any difference in the photobiological properties of melanins isolated from human blue and brown eyes? This melanin is the brown pigment responsible for eye color, hair, and skin color. Amber eyes have a little more melanin than hazel eyes, and still account for approximately 5% of the population. The cultural implications are another story. Changes (lightening or darkening) of eye color during early childhood, puberty, pregnancy, and sometimes after serious trauma (like heterochromia) suggest that eyes sometimes change color under certain circumstances, due to chemical reactions or hormonal changes within the body. Associated with differences between blue and green eyes. Blue eyes are most common in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. 2. Eye color depends on how much of a pigment called melanin lives in the iris of the eye. Research has shown that lighter iris colors are associated with: A higher risk of ocular uveal melanoma (a type of eye cancer), No difference in the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. About half as many Americans have blue eyes as brown eyes. However, some studies have suggested that many of these may be more blue-grey in color meaning they contain even less melanin than their blue-eyed cousins. As the child develops, melanocytes (cells found within the iris of human eyes, as well as skin and hair follicles) slowly begin to produce melanin. Nothing to do with their mythical fiery temperament! Hazel eyes: What determines hazel eye color. Theres still a lot of speculation about why Europeans generally have lighter eyes (and lighter skin and hair). And in the end, we have gone through some maps provided by Unsafe Harbour made on basis of some scientific research on the matter of countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. Netherlands stands for the tallest country in the world and is also the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list with 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide. [46], Green eyes are most common in Northern, Western and Central Europe. [47][48] In Scotland, 29% of people have green eyes. In addition to having significantly less melanin in their iris than people with brown eyes, hazel eyes or green eyes, blue-eyed individuals don't have very much variation in the part of their DNA responsible for melanin production. Summary. So, there's less worry of a vitamin D deficiency for redheads. The brightly colored eyes of many bird species result from the presence of other pigments, such as pteridines, purines, and carotenoids. Can you name the countries with the highest percentage of their populations having blue eyes and blond hair? A baby's eyes may be blue during this time, but later change color. Follow. Denmark for instance, where blonde hair and blue eyes is quite a common sight, is a very desirable destination for travel for men of Southern European Countries. Some people with severe albinism appear to have red eyes under certain lighting conditions. [66] 56% of Slovenes have blue/green eyes. This would be analogous to the change in the color of the sky, from the blue given by the Rayleigh scattering of sunlight by small gas molecules when the sky is clear, to the gray caused by Mie scattering of large water droplets when the sky is cloudy. Grey 0%. For other uses, see, "Blue eyes" redirects here. [28] In many parts of the world, it is nearly the only iris color present. Researchers believe there is one ancestor responsible for blue eyes that descended from the Black Sea region of southeastern Europe anywhere between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Unlike hazel eyes, which appear to shift colors, amber eyes have a solid gold hue. 15 Best Places to Travel in November in Europe, Asia and Tropical Destinations 15 Most Expensive Items You Can Buy on Amazon. [30][31] Amber eyes should not be confused with hazel eyes. The collagen is scatted by light to make the eyes look gray. [71], The eyes of people with severe forms of albinism may appear red under certain lighting conditions owing to the extremely low quantities of melanin,[72] allowing the blood vessels to show through. International Journal of Ophthalmology. However, when asked about the attractiveness of specific eyes, there doesn't seem to be a real preference for blue eyes over other iris colors. : 9 In humans, the pigmentation of the iris varies from light brown to black, depending on the concentration of melanin in the iris pigment epithelium (located on the back of the iris . [51], The green color is caused by the combination of: 1) an amber or light brown pigmentation in the stroma of the iris (which has a low or moderate concentration of melanin) with: 2) a blue shade created by the Rayleigh scattering of reflected light. Approximately 27% of people in the United States and between 8% and 10% of the world's population have blue eyes. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Crystal GayleIt was released in June 1977 and reached Number 1 on the Country Billboard Charts, Number 2 on the Billboard Ho. The number of cylindrical cells is more than the number of color receptors and reaches about 120 million; cone cells, which are smaller in number than light receptors, have color vision and are divided into three distinct categories, each of which recognizes one of the colors blue, red, and green, allowing the individual to distinguish colors. Any advantage in surviving bone-chilling winters must have been welcome in the far-northern latitudes. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. For just about everyone, the back layer of each eye is brown. [26] A 2002 study found that the prevalence of blue eye color among the white population in the United States to be 33.8% for those born from 1936 through 1951, compared with 57.4% for those born from 1899 through 1905. This results in the formation of KayserFleischer rings, which are dark rings that encircle the periphery of the iris. Blue eyes aren't actually blue. Just 2.2 percent of male CEOs had blond hair, a 2005 study found. One possible explanation for the difference in the appearance of gray and blue eyes is that gray eyes have larger deposits of collagen in the stroma, so that the light that is reflected from the epithelium undergoes Mie scattering (which is not strongly frequency-dependent) rather than Rayleigh scattering (in which shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more). Get our editors daily picks straight in your inbox! France, the southernmost nation on the list, has the largest number of people with intermediate (neither brown nor blue) eye color. Iris color and associated pathological ocular complications: a review of epidemiologic studies. Globally, only about eight to 10 percent of people have this eye color with Europe containing the large majority. New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. And around 10%, 5%, and 2% . Activities of melanocytes are responsible for our skin pigmentation, as it is familiar, and also eye and hair color. About 5% of the worlds population and 18% of Americans have hazel eyes -- a mixture of green, gold, and orange. The green color is from a combination of a blue hue from Rayleigh scattering and "yellow" from the yellow pigment called lipochrome. For other uses, see. Blue eyes are the second most common eye color in the world. At the end, what we got was a blonde map of Europe. Furnace, Boiler or Heat Pump? Since many people with blue eye color are more sensitive to light and may have a higher risk of retinal damage from UV rays, eye doctors often recommend that people with blue eyes be a little more cautious about their exposure to sunlight. These people make up about 9% of the U.S. population. The color of our eyes depends on how much melanin is present in the iris. Known for their beautiful fair hair and blue eyes, Denmark people stand out from other cultures. Iris color depends on the protein melanin which is stored in special cells, melanocytes. A global view of the OCA2-HERC2 region and pigmentation. Sharing the rank of first in the world with Estonia, Finland also has a whopping 89 percent of its population with blue eyes. Effortless urban style, with expert craftsmanship - clothing, shoes & apparel for men & women from rag & bone. Blue eyes are an inherited trait. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! Blue light may also damage your retinas. Click to read the article and view the infographic. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. Why do some people have light blue eyes and others have dark blue? Hereditary deafness is a major concern in white cats, and even more so if one or both irises are blue in color. The researchers found four key areas of the genome where variation closely correlated with skin color differences. The brown color comes from melanin, a pigment in our eyes that also gives a brown color to hair, skin and other cells. Occasionally, heterochromia can be a sign of a serious medical condition. Blue eyes are also found in Central Asia, North Africa, South Asia, West Asia, and Southern Europe. Amber eyes are a solid color with a strong yellowish/golden and russet/coppery tint, which may be due to the yellow pigment called lipochrome (also found in green eyes). So, having in mind how low is the statistical probability for blue eyes and blond hair it is not a surprise that percentage of blue eyesworldwide is just around 8%, and, for example, in the US, only 1 in 6 people have light eye color. The iris is made up of two layers of muscle and other kinds of cells. Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character determined by two factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris[1][2] and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris. As of 2010, researchers believe that as many as 16 different genes influence eye color in humans, and most of these genes play a crucial role in the production, transportation, and storage of melanin pigment. Normally, there is a thick layer of melanin on the back of the iris. [54] In 2008, new research tracked down one genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. Researchers believe there is one ancestor responsible for this eye color. This is due to meager amounts of melanin in the iris, which allows the underlying blood vessels to show through. [62][63][64], Approximately 8% to 10% of the global population have blue eyes. The origin of the gene giving rise to blond hair color has been traced back to the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago. Just 22 per cent now have brown eyes, while 30 . Now, geneticists suggest everybody with non-brown eyes can trace their eye color back to that one person. Finland is the first among the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. Another hypothesis about heterochromia is that it can result from a viral infection in utero affecting the development of one eye, possibly through some sort of genetic mutation. Instead, they have less melanin, absorb less light, scatter more light and reflect it along the spectrum of light color. . SEE RELATED: How color contact lenses can make anyone's eyes blue. They were present in south Siberia during the Bronze Age. Blue eye color is determined by melanin, and melanin is actually brown by nature. Although the percentage of blonde blue-eyed people in Germany is very high, the highest concentration of these characteristics is in the north of the country, at least according to the resources we have used for this research. An iris that appears golden contains some melanin even at this early age and is likely to turn from blue to green or brown as the infant ages. [101], As the perception of color depends on viewing conditions (e.g., the amount and kind of illumination, as well as the hue of the surrounding environment), so does the perception of eye color. [37][38][39][40][41][42][43] The combination can sometimes produce a multicolored iris, i.e., an eye that is light brown/amber near the pupil and charcoal or dark green on the outer part of the iris (or vice versa) when observed in sunlight. Because melanocyte cells continually produce pigment, in theory eye color can be changed. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. Researchers at the American Academy of Opthalmology have stated that everyone on planet earth had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. October 2014. "From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor," said Eiberg. Hazel eyes: What determines hazel eye color? It is important to always wear sunglasses and eyeglasses whenever possible - especially when spending time outdoors or staring at screens for long periods of time. Most Asian and African children are born with brown and black eyes. Around 17 per cent of people have blue eyes, and when combined with 1-2 per cent having red hair, the odds of having both traits are around 0.17 per cent. [50] Among European Americans, green eyes are most common among those of recent Celtic and Germanic ancestry with about 16%. The blue-eyes stereotype: do eye color, pupil diameter, and scleral color affect attractiveness? An iris with little melanin appears blue, while those with more little melanin appear green or hazel. Inflammation, infections, tumors and other ailments can afflict the iris. Blue eyes as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes, Eye color as a risk factor for acquired sensorineural hearing loss: A review, A global view of the OCA2-HERC2 region and pigmentation. Home Improvement / story. The iris is the colored part of the eye that surrounds the pupil. [24], Almost all mammals have brown or darkly-pigmented irises. 10 . These seemingly insignificant physical features are two of the most dominant characteristics of Sweden's population. Blue eye color is determined by melanin, and melanin is actually brown by nature. This genetic switch limits how much melanin is produced in the iris effectively "diluting" brown eyes to a shade of blue. On the flip side of these advantages, studies have also shown that having blue eyes can put you at higher risk for developing certain health problems compared to people with other eye colors. [9] The earlier belief that blue eye color is a simple recessive trait has been shown to be incorrect. The iris is the colored part of your eye that has multiple layers. Thats because eye color comes from melanin, the same brown pigment that gives color to our hair and skin. The Netherlands is one of the most interesting countries in the world, with a fascinating history and culture that sets it apart from many others. 207,208 - (1968), Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:18, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Phenotypes and Genotypes for human eye colors. How eye color develops and why it changes. Brown eyes in an otherwise mostly light-eyed region may point to a genetic leftover and a time in history during which everyone in the world had brown eyes. Protecting your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises. People with green eyes have a bit more melanin than people with blue eyes. Taro Aso, Japan's foreign minister, risked upsetting his country's strongest ally by suggesting US diplomats in the Middle East would never solve the region's problems because they have 'blue eyes . If you have a darker iris color, you are at a greater risk of developing this eye disease. An article released Monday in the peer-reviewed . Aesth Plast Surg. Between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, a baby was born in Europe with a harmless genetic mutation. But a survey of more than 25,000 people from 12 countries has . This is because - according to research - redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold pain. Woman From Denmark With Blue Eyes. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is no pigment for hazel or green or blue. In those with milder forms of albinism, the color of the iris is typically blue but can vary from blue to brown. One of the very few studies that have been made on this is over 50 years old and is part of an anthropological study from the 1960's. The study concluded that somewhere between 50 and 80 percent . Cavin Herbert Eye Institute. Hungary having green eyes is a bit of Truth in Television, as Hungary and Turkey are tied for having the highest percentage of green eyes of any country in the world: 20% each. 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