Determining your true eye color can be tricky, as many people have eyes that appear different shades in different lighting. Hazel eyes in particular can shift between appearing more green or more brown. Here’s a quick guide to help you identify whether your eye color is closer to hazel or green.
What makes eyes appear hazel?
Hazel eyes get their distinctive appearance from having both brown and green pigmentation in the iris. The amount of brown and green pigment varies from person to person.
Some hazel eyes appear light brown or amber in dim lighting but more greenish in sunlight. Other hazel eyes look like a mix of brown and green blended together. The green may be more concentrated around the pupil or along the outer edge of the iris.
Key features of hazel eyes
Here are some of the defining features of hazel eyes:
- Multicolored appearance from green and brown pigment
- Tend to look more green or light brown rather than dark brown
- Colors shift based on lighting conditions
- May have flecks or streaks of different colors in the iris
- Often appear golden brown or light amber indoors
What makes eyes green?
Green eyes get their color from having higher levels of melanin pigment in the iris. This melanin is called pheomelanin and it has a yellowish-green hue.
The more pheomelanin present, the greener the eyes will appear. People with very dark or olive green eyes tend to have the highest pheomelanin concentrations.
Key features of green eyes
Here are the typical features of green eyes:
- Solid green color with little or no brown
- Pale green, emerald green, olive green, or shades in between
- Color is consistent and does not change much in different lighting
- May have a dark limbal ring (the outer edge of the iris)
- Less common than hazel, brown, or blue eyes
Hazel vs green eyes in different lighting
One of the biggest factors in distinguishing hazel and green eyes is how they appear in bright sunlight compared to indoors or in dim conditions.
Here is an overview of how hazel and green eyes tend to change based on the lighting:
| Eye Color | Bright Sunlight | Indoors/Dim Lighting |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | More greenish/golden | More amber/light brown |
| Green | Brighter green | Duller green |
As you can see, hazel eyes tend to look greener in bright light but more light brown or amber when indoors or in dimmer conditions. The color shift is often quite noticeable.
In contrast, purely green eyes maintain their solid green color regardless of the lighting. The shade may appear brighter or more intense in sunlight, but the eyes will not take on a different color.
Determining if your eyes are hazel or green
If you are still unsure whether your eye color skews more hazel or green, here are some simple ways to tell:
- Examine your eyes closely in natural sunlight – hazel eyes will look greener and reveal more flecks of color while green eyes will appear bright green or olive green.
- Look at your eyes indoors in non-direct light – hazel eyes will appear more golden or light brown while green eyes will be a more muted green.
- Ask others how they would describe your eye color – their perception of your eye color can give you more insight.
- Compare your eye color to other examples – looking at photos of hazel and green eyes can help you decide which your eyes match more closely.
- Go by what color is most dominant – if your eyes appear more green overall than brown, they are likely green not hazel.
Conclusion
Determining whether you have hazel or green eyes requires observing your eyes in different lighting conditions and getting feedback from others. True hazel eyes will shift between green and brown while green eyes maintain the same solid green shade.
Minor flecks of brown in an otherwise green iris do not necessarily make eyes hazel. Conversely, eyes that appear more brown than green are also not considered true hazel eyes. In the end, whichever color dominates the overall appearance is most indicative of your true eye color.
