This is classified as acquired heterochromia. Like the two other forms of this trait, central heterochromia can also be caused by an underlying medical condition, trauma or medication when it shows up later in life. When multiple eye colors are present at or shortly after birth, it is known as congenital heterochromia. Instead, central heterochromia is usually a random (but harmless) genetic mutation that happens sometime during development - and one that doesn’t happen all that often. There is a slight chance it can get passed down from parent to child, but it’s unlikely. ![]() The family gene pool is almost never responsible for any form of heterochromia. SEE RELATED: How eye color develops, and why it changes Causes Two other forms, complete heterochromia (two different-colored eyes) and sectoral heterochromia (patches or wedges of a second color on one or both irises), can be just as photogenic.īut beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we’ll let you decide which is the most attention-grabbing. Look carefully and you’ll notice a light sea-green color in the center of her irises that radiates toward a dark blue-green hue along the outer edges.Ĭentral heterochromia isn’t the only form of this striking genetic trait. Sharbat Gula, the subject of Steve McCurry’s 1984 National Geographic photo “ Afghan Girl,” likely had this unique trait. It even gave one of the world’s most famous photographs a visual wow factor. When melanin is distributed differently closer to the pupils, light reflects off of it in a different way and gives the appearance of two different colors in each iris.Ī common form of central heterochromia shows up as predominantly blue eyes with a smaller ring of brown in the center streaking outward. ![]() The visual appearance of central heterochromia comes down to a pigment called melanin - the same pigment that determines the color of your skin. Central heterochromia is almost always harmless when you’re born with it. This trait usually involves both eyes, with two separate colors appearing in each eye instead of one. Central heterochromia is when the inner ring of the iris - the eye color closest to your pupil - is a different color than the outer ring, along the edge of your iris.
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