What is the rarest eye color?

If eyes are the windows to the soul, our irises are really like the stained-glass windows to the soul. There are so many eye colors and some of them are way more rare than others. Let's look at what is the most common eye color, rare eye colors, and unique eye colors. 

Understanding common eye colors

Do you remember from grade school art class what happens when you mix all the colors? Yep, you get brown, so it's no wonder that brown is the most common color.

Brown eyes - the most common

Although the most common, shades of brown can range from light to very dark, almost black looking. Darker colors are like tiny sunglasses that sit right on top of your irises, the colored part of your eye. Darker colors like brown block more light, so they're better for vision in bright, sunny areas.

Blue eyes - a common but striking hue 

Blue eyes are also fairly common but less common than brown. Lighter-colored eyes allow more light through, which would be better for lower light conditions, especially in the far north. The greatest concentration of blue eyes appears in populations in and near the Nordic region, where there is very little light in the winter months. 

Scientists believe that blue eyes started to appear in modern humans in Europe around 10,000 years ago. This timing coincides with the thawing of glaciers in far northern Europe, which would allow humans to settle and start living in the low-light region for the first time. European Neanderthals had lived near that area for hundreds of thousands of years before modern humans and were believed to have light-colored eyes.

Exploring rare eye colors 

Here's where things get interesting. There's a bit of debate over which is the rarest eye color and which "colors" even count.

Green eyes - uncommon elegance 

Green eyes are rarer than brown and blue. The highest concentration of green eyes is found in the Celtic people living in Ireland and Scotland. This region is further north than regions where brown eyes are predominant but not as far north as countries in the Nordic area, where there are quite a few baby blues. The ancestors of Celtic people would have had more light than the Nordic countries but less light than those living further south in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Gray eyes - the enigmatic shade 

Gray eyes used to be included with blue eyes, so many sources still say that green is the rarest color. However, gray is now recognized as a distinct eye color and is considered the rarest of all melanated eye colors. Gray eyes can range from light to very dark. 

Amber eyes - a unique and rare phenomenon 

Amber eyes are often confused with hazel, which is two-toned. Amber eyes are a light brown that also has a bit of an orange tone. They look almost golden, like honey. 

The science behind eye color variations

It looks like our genes are just as good at mixing colors as you were back in kindergarten. Every eye color is actually unique! 

Genetic determinants of eye color 

Eye color is determined by genetics. It used to be thought that it came just from our parents, but now, scientists have discovered that there is an interplay between a wide variety of genes that are passed down from our ancestral family tree. 

Our irises have two layers. The bottom layers are brown for everyone except those with some degree of albinism, who lack some or any pigment. The top layer is what causes variations in eye color. People with albinism lack melanin and have irises that appear red or even a reddish violet, the very rarest hue of all. 

Differences in eye color are determined by the amount of melanin we have, the same substance that determines our hair and eye color. You have melanin in both layers of your irises.

Environmental and evolutionary influences 

Although scientists don't know the exact reason why lighter-colored eyes developed in some areas of the world and not in others, there does seem to be a correlation between the amount of light in a region and the development of lighter-colored eyes. Because areas with less sunlight can cause people to develop lower levels of melanin in their skin, it's logical to assume this was a factor with eye color as well.

Change your eye color with colored contacts

Would you like to override the eye color your genes came up with? Now, you can defy Mother Nature with colored prescription contacts in a variety of colors, from common to rare.

FAQs

Can eye color change over time? 

While the amount of melanin doesn't change after eye color becomes permanent, certain medical conditions can affect eye color.

Are there specific health implications associated with certain eye colors? 

Some health conditions, such as glaucoma, can affect eye color. 

Can rare eye colors be more susceptible to certain environmental factors? 

One study found that people with lighter-colored eyes are at greater risk of developing uveal melanoma, cancer in the eye.