Although brown may not be one of the rarest eye colors in the world, that doesn’t make it any less interesting. Let’s take some time to explore the brown eye color, its prevalence and varying shades and some other interesting facts about brown eyes.
How Rare Are Brown Eyes?
Brown eyes aren’t rare at all. According to a 2014 poll by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, roughly 45% of Americans have brown eyes, making it the most common eye color in the U.S. by far. Perhaps “How common are brown eyes?” would be the more appropriate question 😉.
Shades of Brown Eyes
Perhaps one of the most interesting qualities of brown eyes is that there are so many different shades. From light-brown eyes, resembling the color of caramel, to dark-brown eyes that are nearly black in appearance, brown eyes run quite a spectrum. In fact, two brown-eyed people could have very different-looking eyes.
Eye Colors Similar to Brown
Hazel eyes are sometimes mistaken for brown eyes if they’re predominantly brown in color. Similarly, amber eyes may look brown from a distance, but they’re actually a different color—lighter, with orange and/or yellow hues.
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Brown eyes are pretty common, but here are some interesting tidbits that make them seem far from ordinary.
Almost All Eyes Are (Technically) Brown Eyes
Yes, you read that right! What we mean by that is nearly everyone’s eyes contain the brown-colored pigment called melanin (the same pigment that gives color to hair and skin).
The iris (the colored part of the eye) has a front and back layer to it. And for nearly everyone, the back layer of the iris contains brown pigment. Brown eyes appear brown because the front layer of the iris (the stroma) is rich with melanin, too.
Lighter eyes—like blue eyes, for instance—have little or no melanin in the stroma. But blue eyes don’t contain blue pigment. Rather, the lack of melanin in the stroma allows light coming into the eye to scatter and reflect back out.
Brown Eyes Are More Tolerant of Sunlight
We established that brown-eyed people are common in the U.S., but they’re even more common in parts of the world with sunny climates, such as Africa and Asia. Why?
Melanin protects our eyes from sun damage just like it protects our skin. In fact, people with lighter eye colors are more susceptible to sun-related eye issues such as photokeratitis since they have less melanin. Perhaps that’s why lighter eye colors didn’t become more prevalent until our early ancestors spread across the world to less sunny, cooler locations.
Brown Eyes Were the Only Eyes at One Time
Until roughly 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, all humans had brown eyes. Researchers have discovered that at that point, a genetic mutation occurred, resulting in blue eyes.
No Matter Your Eye Color…
Your eyes are beautiful and unique. So, be sure to take care of them with regular eye exams.
Find yourself thinking about other eye colors? You could always consider colored contact lenses. Just reach out to your eye doctor if that sparks your interest.
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