Your eye color is determined by that of the iris, which is the part of your eye that controls how much light reaches the retina. Whether it’s brown, blue, hazel, or green, many believe that eye color plays a role in determining your health and some personality traits. According to the abundant research on this, you may be able to tell if you are likely to acquire certain health conditions and the extent of certain traits you possess.
Here are 6 things you didn’t know your eye color could tell you.
6 Things Your Eye Color Might Reveal About Your Health and Personality
1. Chances Of Acquiring Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of loss of vision among people aged 50 and above. It is a condition in which a small part of the eye near the retina that sharpens your vision is damaged. Among other causes, research suggests that having a light colored iris may result in a greater progression of AMD.1 This is likely because a dark iris blocks more ultraviolet light (UV), and UV light is a risk factor for macular degeneration. So, any extra light entering the irises of light-colored eyes may result in retinal degeneration. However, as AMD is quite common among Caucasians, these findings need to be confirmed on a larger sample and on different races.
2. Chances Of Acquiring Vitiligo
Vitiligo, which is an autoimmune disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches, is found to be less common in people with blue eyes.2 Two genes TYR and OCA2 are said to not only give eyes a blue color but also decrease the risk of vitiligo.
3. Risk Of Melanoma
Dark colored irises might indicate a lower risk of melanoma – a type of skin cancer. A study involving a large number of white children of ages 6–10 showed that those with the gene responsible for blue colored irises were more likely to acquire melanoma.3 Those with blue eyes are said to have less light absorbing pigment to protect their eyes from damage caused by the sun, increasing the risk of melanoma.
4. Competitiveness
A study conducted on Australians of European descent revealed that people with light colored eyes – specifically blue eyes – are much more competitive than those with dark colored irises. Those with light colored eyes were also found to be less compassionate, generous, and friendly than those with dark colored eyes. Although more research is required to confirm these findings, this is said to be due to evolutionary roots. Northern Europeans may have found light colored eyes attractive and hence ideal for mating, possibly making blue-eyed people more competitive.4
5. Trustworthiness
Men with brown eyes are considered more trustworthy than those with blue eyes.5 However, the eye color is not the only deciding factor. Trustworthy features like bigger eyes, bigger mouths, and broader chins – features that mirror how faces express happiness – are also said to be linked to trustworthiness.
6. Level Of Alcohol Consumption
People with light colored eyes have been found to drink more alcohol than those with darker eyes.6 This could be because of those with dark eyes – due to their high levels of melanin – are more sensitive to alcohol, meaning that they are more likely to get drunk on lesser alcohol than light-eyed people. However, this needs to be confirmed by further research.
While many studies link eye color to a possible role in the chances of acquiring various illnesses and possessing certain personality traits, they do not confirm eye color to be the sole deciding factor. More research is required for the confirmation of current findings.
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