We see the oceans, the sky and we just think "blue", same goes for blue eyes, but they are not really blue, everything is not what it appears to be....
Your eyes get their color from Melanin, it is the same pigment that determines the colors of your skin and hair.
And your iris consists of two layers, that is the part around the pupil that gives your eyes their color.
These layers are called:
- Epithelium - the layer in the back, and
- The Stroma - which is the front layer.
Melanin
As I already mentioned, this chemical determines the color of your hair and your skin tone.
Melanin is dark brown in color, and where there are higher concentrations of this pigment in your body, the darker the color comes through. Melanin is produced by a group of cells called melanocytes and these cells protect your skin from potentially harmful UV radiation you can get from the sun. Melanin absorbs light, and depending on the concentration of the pigment, the more or less light gets absorbed through your skin. That's why when you tan in the sun it is more difficult for some people to tan some parts of their bodies, as there is a lower concentration of Melanin.
The Epithelium (Back Layer of the Iris)
The epithelium is only two cells thick and these cells only contain brown and black pigments. So when you look into someone's eyes and you see those dark specs in between the colored parts, that is the epithelium peeking through.
The Stroma (Front Layer of the Iris)
The stroma consists of overlapping fiber and cells. And it all depends on how much pigment is in these cells to determine the color of your eyes.
Conclusion
Brown or Amber Eyes
Brown and/or yellow pigments are present in the cells in both layers of the iris, and the more melanin, the more light is absorbed making the color darker. Just like a suntan.
Green or Hazel Eyes
There is little light brown or yellow pigment present in one or both layers in the cells of the iris which interacts with the amount of light absorbed and reflected, which makes your eyes appear green or speckled. It depends on the concentration of pigment in the areas of your eyes for variation in lighter or darker colors in different areas, closer or farther from the edge, in your iris.
Some green-eyed people like myself, depending on the amount of light that gets absorbed and reflected, my eyes appear bluer or greener on different occasions.
Blue or Grey Eyes
Even people with blue eyes have some brown pigment in the back layer, but there is no pigment in the stroma, and the fibers scatter and depending on the amount of light, the eyes appear a brighter or deeper blue, and with less light, they appear darker. This is because there is less melanin present, so less light is absorbed, so the light is reflected back and gives the iris a blue hue.
The Sky and Water, get their color the same way Blue Eyes Does
A clear sky is made up of tiny particles that scatter blue light around, making the sky appear blue, but as clouds form with water molecules filling the air, the sky grows darker and more grey. And the same goes for water, you will notice when the skies are clear and it's sunny out, the ocean glistens a bright and deep blue, but just before and after the rain or storm, the ocean turns darker like a blueish grey.
The physics of this all is very complex, and I hope I made it understandable as this is quite interesting.
It's important to know how our bodies or our surroundings operate or came to be.
Whether just to expand your knowledge, how to take care of it or how to understand it when something goes wrong.
Fun Facts
Distribution of Eye Color in the World:
- Brown Eyes - 55%
- Blue Eyes - 8%
- Hazel Eyes - 8%
- Green - 2%
The other 20% is devided into other very rare eye colors such as silver and amber.
Other Fun Facts
- Your retinas perceives the world upside down and your brain flips it right side up, crazy huh?!
- You blink on average 17 times a minute, doesn't feel like it though.
- When you cry, excess stress chemicles are pushed out of your body helping to restore the balance.
- Eyes are the second most complex organ after the brain.
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