Determining your true eye color can be tricky, especially if you have an eye color that seems to shift between different shades. Many people with hazel, amber, or light brown eyes often wonder what their definitive eye color is. There are a few key factors that can help determine whether your eyes are best described as hazel, amber, or brown.
What makes eyes appear hazel?
Eyes that appear hazel have a mix of brown, green, gold, and orange tones in the iris. This multi-colored appearance is what creates the hazel effect. Here are some of the main causes of hazel eyes:
| Rayleigh scattering | This is when shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more than longer wavelengths. It makes the stroma, the fibrous tissue behind the colored part of the iris, appear bluish-gray or green. |
| Melanin content | Hazel eyes have a moderate amount of melanin. More melanin makes eyes darker, while less makes eyes lighter. |
| Iris configuration | The amount of melanin can vary in different areas of the iris, creating patches of color and a multi-hued look. |
The combination of Rayleigh scattering, melanin variation, and iris patterning produces the effect of hazel eyes. The exact shade can range from light golden-brown to a darker, muddier hazel. But in general, hazel eyes have an ambiguous, shifting appearance depending on lighting conditions.
What makes eyes amber?
Amber eyes are a light golden or coppery brown shade. Here are some of the causes of amber eye color:
| Low to moderate melanin | Amber eyes have a bit more melanin than light golden eyes but less than medium brown eyes. |
| Thinner iris tissue | A thin, translucent iris allows more light to pass through and reflects back a lighter color. |
| Reduced melanin in the anterior border layer | A lack of melanin in the front of the iris causes lighter refraction of light. |
The small amount of melanin in amber eyes produces a light brown hue with golden or coppery tones. The effect is similar to that of hazel eyes but more subdued and lacking in greenish tones. Amber eyes are a solid light brown as opposed to the shifting, multi-colored look of hazel eyes.
What makes eyes brown?
Brown eyes get their color from melanin, the pigment that also colors hair and skin. Here are some factors that cause brown eye color:
| High melanin content | The more melanin in the iris, the darker the eyes appear. Brown eyes have a lot of melanin compared to lighter colors. |
| Low light reflection | With more melanin, less light is reflected back, creating a darker eye color. |
| Dense iris tissue | Thicker iris tissue blocks light transmission, making the eyes appear darker brown. |
The high concentration of melanin in brown eyes absorbs most light and gives them their distinctive rich, deep color. Unlike hazel and amber eyes, brown eyes have a very homogeneous, solid appearance rather than containing flecks of different colors.
Comparing hazel, amber, and brown eyes
Now that we’ve looked at what causes hazel, amber, and brown eyes, how do you know which category your eyes fall into? Here’s a comparison of some of the main distinguishing features:
| Hazel | Amber | Brown | |
| Melanin content | Moderate | Low to moderate | High |
| Color(s) | Mix of brown, green, gold | Light golden brown | Dark brown |
| Multi-colored | Yes | No | No |
| Light appearance | Shifts based on lighting | More solid | Darker, absorbs light |
As you can see, hazel eyes differ from amber and brown due to their mix of colors and ability to appear to shift shades. Amber has some hints of gold/green but lacks the multiple tones of true hazel eyes. And brown eyes have a very uniform, darker appearance compared to hazel and amber eyes.
Determining if your eyes are hazel, amber or brown
If you’re still uncertain whether your eyes are hazel, amber or brown, here are some tips for figuring it out:
– Examine your eyes closely in natural sunlight. Are there flecks, streaks or patches of green, gold or orange color mixed in with the brown? If so, your eyes are likely hazel.
– Look at your eyes indoors in bright light. Do your eyes appear more solid brown or do they shift color? Uniform brown points to brown eyes while color variations mean you likely have hazel eyes.
– Compare your eyes to someone with known brown eyes. If your eyes are many shades lighter, they are probably amber or hazel, not brown.
– Hazel eyes tend to appear greenish-gray in some lights. If your eyes sometimes look gray or blue, it’s a sign of hazel eyes.
– Ask friends how they would describe your eye color. Oftentimes we are the worst judges of our own eye color.
– Look at old photos of yourself as a child. Hazel eyes typically appear lighter at a young age. If your childhood eye color was very light, you most likely have hazel eyes.
– For amber eyes, look for hints of copper, gold, or reddish tones mixed in with light brown. The absence of vibrant colors points to amber rather than hazel eyes.
Conclusion
Determining your true eye color can take some sleuthing if you have an eye color that seems to change shades or contains multiple colors. In general, hazel eyes shift between green, brown and gold tones; amber eyes are light golden or coppery brown; and brown eyes appear uniformly dark brown or blackish. Comparing your eye appearance in different lighting conditions and looking for hints of color variations or uniformity can help establish whether your eyes are best described as hazel, amber or brown. But when in doubt, ask others how they perceive the color of your eyes – you may be surprised to know what color your eyes really are!
