Brown coloured eyes are the most common eye color (70% of the global population) in people. The colour of eyes happens due to a pigment called melanin. This high melanin affects skin colour also.
This high melanin will provide multiple health benefits & risks in our body. The sunlight plays an evolutionary role in high melanin and brown eyes.
Despite their commonality, brown eyes are fascinating and hold unique characteristics.
Let’s understand the most interesting facts about having brown eyes and high melanin. Also, debunk common myths about brown colored eyes.
What Causes Brown Eyes?
The melanin quantity in the iris causes brown eyes. The quantity of melanin completely depends on the light absorbed by the skin. Individuals who live in direct contact with sunlight will have darker skin and brown or dark eyes.
Brown eyes also come in a beautiful variety of shades, including dark brown, hazel brown, golden brown, chestnut Brown, etc.
Scientific Explanation: A key region on chromosome 15 contains the OCA2 and HERC2 genes, which together play a major role in determining brown vs. blue eyes. The OCA2 gene produces the cell structures that make melanin, so when OCA2 is highly active, more melanin is deposited in the iris.
Brown eyes have evolved based on the environment and outside temperature. So, now it is dominant in genetics.
This means if one parent has brown eyes, there is a high probability that their child will also have brown eyes, especially if the other parent also has dark-colored eyes.
Eye color is determined by multiple genes, not just one, so the pattern of inheritance is complicated. Although dominant genes increase the frequency of brown eyes, differences in genetic composition may occasionally cause differen shades of eyes to appear even in families with a majority of brown-eyed members.
How Rare Are Brown Eyes?
Despite being the most common eye color, the frequency of brown eyes varies depending on the region. Globally, about 70-80% of people have brown eyes. In some parts of the world, like Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East, nearly everyone has brown eyes.
Northern European countries (e.g., Iceland, Scandinavia) have a majority of blue eyes, so brown eyes are relatively uncommon there. For instance, only about 9% of Icelanders have brown eyes. In contrast, southern and eastern Europe have more brown eyes: roughly a third of people in France and Britain, and over 20% in Germany, have brown eyes.
Interestingly, in some countries, brown eyes are almost universal. For example, over 95 percent of people in China, India, and much of Africa have brown eyes.
The United States has the most diverse eye colour. But the dominant eye color is brown, followed by blue and hazel.
However, in regions like Northern Europe, brown eyes are less common, and blue or green eyes are more frequently found.
Facts of Having Brown Eye Color
An individual with brown eyes will have multiple health benefits genetically over other eye colors. For example
- Lower Risk of Macular Degeneration: Studies suggest that people with brown eyes may have a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that affects vision as people get older. Similarly, brown eyes are associated with reduced rates of certain retinal and pigment disorders.
- Better Protection Against Sunlight: Brown eyes' high melanin concentration offers more natural protection against damaging UV radiation. This minimizes the risk of sunlight-related eye disorders, including cataracts and retinal damage. This is why brown eyes are so common in sunny areas.
- Reduced Risk of Light Sensitivity and Glare: Brown eyes tend to be less photophobic in bright conditions People with lighter-colored eyes, such as blue or green, tend to be more sensitive to bright light and glare, whereas people with brown eyes are less uncomfortable in harsh sunlight or artificial lighting.
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Lower Disease Risk: Studies have shown that people with brown eyes have a lower chance of developing intraocular melanoma. This will reduce the risk of having eye cancer, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy compared to lighter-eyed people.
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Change in Eye Color With Age: Many babies are born with blue or grayish eyes, but this can change over time. As a baby grows, melanin production increases, making the eyes darker. By the age of one or two, many babies who were born with light-colored eyes changed to brown eyes with more melanin in the iris.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
Other than benefits, there are Numerous myths and folklore have developed around eye color. It’s important to separate legend from science:
Myth: Brown eyes are always dominant over blue. This simplistic idea is outdated. Modern research shows multiple genes determine eye color. Two blue-eyed parents can sometimes have a brown-eyed child because eye-color genes interact in complex ways. The old dominance rule (brown > blue) only holds on average, not absolutely.
Myth: Eye color predicts personality. For example, one optometry blog lists beliefs that brown-eyed folks are “humble, trustworthy, and loving”. However, none of these personality claims are supported by science. Studies find no reliable link between eye color and character or behavior. In short, any “brown eye personality” stereotypes are cultural myths, not biology.
Myth: Eye color affects intelligence or vision quality. No reputable evidence links brown eyes to being smarter or to having “better” or “worse” vision. Eye color mainly affects pigment level, not how well the eyes focus or process images.
Does Eye Color Reveal Health Risks?
Some research indicates that eye color may predict susceptibility to certain health issues. Individuals with lighter-colored eyes (blue, green, or hazel) are more light-sensitive and are at greater risk for developing some eye diseases, including macular degeneration. Brown-eyed individuals have a natural advantage in terms of protection from UV damage and are less likely to experience some vision-related ailments.
Other Eye Colors
Brown eyes may be the most common, but other eye colors have their own unique characteristics. Blue eyes, have less melanin, so they are more sensitive to light. People with blue eyes might find themselves squinting more in bright sunlight compared to those with darker eyes.
Green eyes, are among the rarest. They contain a moderate level of melanin and present a dramatic, enigmatic appearance. Hazel eyes are an interesting combination of green and brown, and the color can sometimes change based on light or even surroundings.
Then there are gray eyes, which are actually a variation of blue. How they reflect light makes them stand out as having a sharp, nearly silvery appearance. While brown eyes are perhaps most popular, each shade of eye has something unique that makes it unique.
Famous People with Brown Eyes
Some of the most popular celebrities and influential personalities in the world have brown eyes. Some of them are:
- Beyoncé - One of the most talented singers and performers in the world.
- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - A successful actor and former professional wrestler.
- Johnny Depp - An iconic actor known for his unique roles.
- Priyanka Chopra - An international actress, singer, and philanthropist.
- Angelina Jolie - An award-winning actress and humanitarian.
- Barack Obama - The 44th President of the United States.
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Selena Gomez - A singer and actress with a massive global fanbase.
What If You Want a Rarer Eye Color?
Some people wish they had a different eye color one of the most popular choices of colored contact lenses that are available in a variety of colors & shades. These lenses come in a variety of shades, from subtle enhancements to bold, dramatic colors.
For those looking for a more permanent change, some surgical procedures claim to lighten brown eyes by removing melanin with lasers. However, these procedures carry risks and are not widely recommended due to potential complications.
Natural eye color is determined by genetics, but there are many methods available to try out how it might look.
Different Shades of Brown Eyes
Not all brown eyes look the same. They can range from light amber to deep, almost black shades.
Some brown eyes may have golden, honey, or reddish undertones, while others appear nearly black due to a very high concentration of melanin.
Many people notice that their brown eyes appear lighter or darker depending on lighting, clothing, or even emotions. This is because light reflects differently off the iris, and pupil dilation can affect how much melanin is visible. Babies born with lighter brown eyes may develop darker eyes as they grow older due to increasing melanin production.
Conclusion:
These are a few facts about Brown eyes that make them popular. Brown eyes may be the most common eye color, but they are anything but ordinary. Their warm, deep color, natural benefits, and historic value contribute to making them truly unique. Whether you have brown eyes yourself or simply admire them, there is no denying their beauty and uniqueness.