Grey eyes are one of the more rare and unique eye colors that some people are born with. While not as common as brown, blue or green eyes, grey eyes do occur naturally in a small percentage of the population. The exact cause and genetics behind grey eyes has been a source of interest and research over the years.
Some key questions around grey eyes include:
What causes grey eyes?
Grey eyes are caused by low levels of melanin, the pigment that also determines brown and blue eyes. People with grey eyes have a dark grey ring around the pupil and light grey or blue colored irises. The amount of melanin present in the iris determines the different shades of grey.
What percentage of the population has grey eyes?
Grey eyes are very uncommon globally, occurring in around 1-2% of the population. However, they are slightly more common in Northern and Eastern Europeans at around 3-10%. Grey eyes are especially prevalent in Estonia where around 18% of people have them.
Are grey eyes a variation of blue eyes?
It was once thought that grey eyes were a variant of blue eyes, but they are now considered a separate and distinct eye color. While blue eyes have low melanin in the stroma with no melanin in the epithelium, grey eyes have small amounts of melanin in both areas.
Can grey eyes change color?
Grey eyes may appear to change between blue, green and grey depending on lighting conditions, makeup and clothing colors. However, true eye color is always fixed from birth. The appearance of changing is caused by the combination of rayleigh scattering in the iris and low melanin levels.
What are the genetics behind grey eyes?
Grey eyes are largely determined by two genes: HERC2 and OCA2. The HERC2 gene activates OCA2 which leads to melanin production. Variants of these genes reduce melanin levels and result in grey, blue and green eyes. Most people with grey eyes have a variation of the HERC2 gene called the ‘grey’ variant which reduces OCA2 expression.
Can grey eyes turn amber or gold?
Some grey-eyed people’s eyes may appear to shift to amber or gold hues in certain lighting. This effect is caused by the combination of low melanin with the elastic opaque collagen fibers in the iris which reflect light. The eyes are still grey, they do not actually change color.
What ethnicity has the most grey eyes?
Grey eyes appear most frequently amongst Northern and Eastern Europeans, especially in countries like Estonia, Finland, Russia and Lithuania. They can also occur in Southern Europeans albeit more rarely. Around 5-10% of Brits and Germans have grey eyes. They are least common in Africans, Asians and Hispanics.
Are grey eyes recessive?
Yes, grey eyes are a recessive trait. Two copies of the genes that code for grey eyes have to be inherited for a person to have grey eyes. A grey-eyed person with a brown-eyed partner can have a brown-eyed child due to the genes coding for brown being dominant.
| Eye Color | Global Percentage |
|---|---|
| Brown | 79% |
| Blue | 8-10% |
| Hazel | 5% |
| Green | 2% |
| Grey | 1-2% |
At what age do grey eyes develop?
Grey eye color is present immediately at birth and in early infancy. However, like blue eyes, grey eyes may initially appear darker in babies until around 6-12 months of age when the final eye color stabilizes. Eye color after birth is influenced mostly by the amount and type of melanin, and iris structure.
Are grey eyes more sensitive to sunlight?
There is no conclusive evidence that grey eyes are more light sensitive compared to other light eye colors like blue and green. However, some grey-eyed people do report increased light sensitivity. This may be related to having less protective melanin in the iris overall compared to those with darker eyes.
Do grey eyes run in families?
Grey eyes often have a strong hereditary component and can run in families. If one parent has grey eyes, their child has around a 50% chance of also inheriting grey eyes if the other parent has blue eyes. However, because grey eyes are recessive, sometimes the gene can skip generations before reappearing.
What colors complement grey eyes?
Certain colors can really make grey eyes stand out, like:
– Purple
– Red
– Yellow
– Orange
– Blue
– Pink
Deep, jewel tone colors and contrasting hues help grey eyes look their best. Black and grey clothing also complements grey eyes well.
Are grey eyes rare?
Globally, grey eyes are quite rare, occurring in only 1-2% of people worldwide. They are unusual except in Northern Europe where around 3-10% of populations have grey eyes on average. So while not the rarest eye color (green is more unusual), grey eyes are still considered one of the more exotic eye shades.
Can you get grey eyes from Lasik or surgery?
There are currently no medical or surgical procedures that can turn brown eyes grey permanently. However, colored contact lenses can be used to make brown eyes appear grey temporarily. Laser eye surgeries like Lasik work by reshaping the cornea, they do not alter eye color.
| Country | Grey Eyes Percentage |
|---|---|
| Estonia | 18% |
| Finland | 10% |
| Iceland | 9% |
| Russia | 3-9% |
| UK | 6% |
| US | 3% |
Conclusion
In summary, grey eyes are a natural eye color that arises from low melanin pigment in the iris. They are genetically rare globally, occurring in just 1-2% of people, and are most prevalent in Northern European ethnic groups. While they can sometimes appear to shift between blue, green and grey shades, true grey eyes are defined by a dark grey ring around the pupil and light grey iris. Their mystical, smoky appearance has fascinated people for centuries. So ultimately, yes grey eyes are a real, naturally occurring eye color explained by genetics and melanin levels.