Brown Eyes: The Overlooked Beauty
While blue eyes are often celebrated for their rarity and angelic qualities, brown eyes are sometimes underappreciated despite their own enchanting allure. Van Morrison famously sang about their charm, and there’s a good reason for it! Brown eyes, often seen as trustworthy and warm, are one of the most captivating eye colors in the world.
Let’s dive deeper into the beauty of brown eyes and explore some interesting facts about them.
What Percentage of the Population Has Brown Eyes?
Brown eyes are by far the most common eye color globally. Around 79% of the world’s population has brown eyes, but the exact percentage varies depending on geography. Dark brown eyes are predominant among people of African and Asian descent, as well as among individuals from the Middle East and the Americas. In the United Kingdom, around 20% of the population has brown eyes, and about 33% (or one-third) has hazel eyes, a lighter variation of brown.
Why Do You Have Brown Eyes?
The color of your eyes is determined by the amount of melanin, the pigment responsible for your hair, skin, and eye color, present in the iris. Brown-eyed individuals typically have a higher concentration of melanin compared to those with lighter eyes.
The iris is made up of two layers, and in people with brown eyes, both the back layer and the front layer contain brown pigment. The more melanin you have, the darker your eye color will be.
Are There Different Shades of Brown Eyes?
Yes! Brown eyes come in a variety of shades, ranging from light amber to deep, coffee-colored hues. Most of us are aware that people with very little melanin have blue eyes or eyes of another lighter color. The amount of melanin in your eyes determines the exact shade. Those with very high levels of melanin will have deep brown eyes, while people with moderate melanin levels may have hazel or light brown eyes.
Brown Eyes vs. Hazel Eyes: What’s the Difference?
While hazel eyes can sometimes look similar to brown eyes, they are distinguished by a mix of colors, usually brown, green, and sometimes gold. Hazel eyes tend to shift in color depending on lighting, whereas brown eyes are more uniform in their tone.
How Is Eye Color Inherited?
Eye color is primarily inherited, but it’s more complex than the simple dominant-recessive gene model we once believed. While brown is a dominant eye color, we now know that up to 16 different genes can influence eye color, which is why children from the same family can have different eye colors. This genetic variability explains why two blue-eyed parents can occasionally have a brown-eyed child.
Brown Eyes and Health Benefits
Interestingly, people with brown eyes have some health advantages. Studies have shown that brown-eyed individuals are less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy compared to those with lighter eyes. However, people with darker eyes have a higher risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the lens that can lead to vision impairment. Visit our eye health hub to learn more about these conditions.
Regardless of your eye color, it is important that you protect your eyes and maintain a healthy vision. it’s important to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection and scheduling regular eye exams.
What Glasses Suit Brown Eyes?
Whether you have light or dark brown eyes, certain glasses can enhance your natural beauty. Brown eyes pair beautifully with warmer tones, so we recommend glasses in shades like brown, green, or tortoiseshell. If you want to add elegance, light gold frames can brighten your complexion. For a bolder look, try vivid purple or blue frames to make your eyes stand out.
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