Auburn eyes are a unique and striking eye color that tends to garner attention. But just how rare are they? The eye color is often confused with just plain brown eyes. However, true auburn eyes have a distinct reddish hue that sets them apart. Genetics play a large role in determining eye color and getting those coppery auburn hues is dependent on having just the right combination of genes. While not the rarest eye color, legitimate auburn eyes are certainly quite uncommon.
What are auburn eyes?
Auburn eyes feature a reddish-orange hue around the pupils that fades into lighter copper or brown colors near the edges of the irises. They are sometimes described as “hazel eyes with a reddish tint.” The amount of red pigment varies between individuals, with some having a bold russet color and others presenting as light brownish-red. Unlike red hair that fades with age, the red pigments in auburn eyes tend to become more prominent over time. Auburn is considered a subset of brown eye color.
How rare are auburn eyes?
The most common eye colors globally are brown, blue, and hazel. Auburn eyes fall into the brown eye category, but make up only a small percentage. Actual statistics on the rarity of auburn eyes are difficult to find. However, it is estimated that only 1-5% of the population worldwide has them. By comparison, the rarest eye color, green, occurs in only 2% of the population. So while auburn eyes are certainly not common, they also can’t be considered extremely rare. Their pigmentation simply falls on the low end of the brown eye color spectrum.
Geographic distribution of auburn eyes
Auburn eyes appear to be more common in certain ethnicities and geographic regions. They occur at higher frequencies in populations with ancestry from:
| Northern Europe |
| Western Europe |
| Central Asia |
| North Africa |
This distribution coincides with groups that also have higher instances of lighter hair and eye colors. Genetically, auburn eyes arise from similar pigmentation mutations that produce other light features. This correlation points to the importance of genetics in controlling this rare eye shade.
Genetics behind auburn eyes
Auburn eye coloration results from two key genetic factors:
Amount of melanin pigment
Melanin is the pigment that also determines hair and skin color. Auburn eyes have a small amount of melanin concentrated around the pupil. This gives the inner eye that distinctive reddish hue. Toward the outer iris, melanin levels taper off, transitioning into lighter copper-brown tones. People with auburn eyes inherit genes for reduced melanin production compared to those with very dark brown eyes.
Types of melanin
There are two forms of melanin: eumelanin which produces brown/black pigment, and pheomelanin which produces red pigment. An excess of pheomelanin relative to eumelanin contributes to that reddish-orange coloration in auburn eyes. The specific blend of these two pigments determines the resulting eye shade.
Auburn vs. amber vs. hazel eyes
Auburn eyes are often confused with similar shades like amber and hazel:
| Eye Color | Defining Traits |
|---|---|
| Auburn | Red/russet color concentrated around the pupil, surrounded by coppery-brown |
| Amber | Solid golden-orange hue across the iris |
| Hazel | Greenish-brown with specks of gold, green, blue, or grey |
While subtle, these distinctions help establish auburn as its own unique eye color not simply a variation of brown or hazel eyes. The concentration of russet pigment around the pupil is the key identifier.
Auburn eyes and ethnicity
Auburn eyes most commonly occur in people of European ancestry, especially Northern Europe. Individuals of Celtic and Germanic heritage tend to show higher incidences. Around 1-2% of Caucasians overall are estimated to have auburn eyes. They are not completely limited to lighter skinned groups though. Auburn eye color also appears in Middle Easterners, Hispanics, Asians, and Africans, although at much lower frequencies. Ultimately auburn eyes can potentially show up in any individual regardless of their ethnic background if they inherit the right genetic mix.
Can you get auburn eyes through tinted contacts?
Tinted contact lenses provide an easy way to mimic the look of rare eye colors like auburn. Several contact lens brands offer natural-looking lenses in shades of reddish-brown, copper, and orange-brown to simulate the auburn effect. However, these will not display the true appearance of auburn eyes – the unique pooling of russet pigment around the pupil. The coloration will appear flat and uniform rather than concentrating in the center. Contacts also lack the eye health benefits associated with natural auburn pigmentation. But they can allow people to experiment with this rare eye shade.
Unique health effects
The melanin pigments that produce auburn eye color may provide some health and vision advantages:
Enhanced UV protection
The melanin in auburn eyes helps filter UV rays and reduce oxidative eye damage that could lead to issues like cataracts. This protective effect gives them an edge over lighter eye colors.
Reduced sun glare sensitivity
The eumelanin in auburn eyes helps cut down on glare and light sensitivity, making them well-adapted for sunny conditions. This gives them an edge over lighter eye colors as well.
Improved low light vision
The pheomelanin in auburn eyes may improve low light vision compared to eyes with only eumelanin. This enhances vision quality in dim conditions.
So while quite rare, auburn eyes do come with some potential vision perks thanks to their distinctive pigment composition. These benefits are most pronounced compared to light eyes.
Conclusion
In summary, genuine auburn eyes are uncommon, but not extremely rare globally. Their exact frequency is hard to quantify but is estimated at 1-5% of the population. Auburn eyes arise from an optimal balance of low melanin levels and pheomelanin pigmentation. They most often occur in people of Northern European descent thanks to this genetic legacy. While they can appear in any ethnicity, auburn eyes are not highly prevalent outside of Europe. Their russet hue is difficult to mimic precisely with contacts. But those born with natural auburn coloration may benefit from protective effects against UV, sun glare, and low light conditions. So in the end, the eye color manages to be both aesthetically unique and functionally advantageous.
