When people think of eye colors, they usually think of shades of blue, green, brown, hazel, and gray. But some people actually have eyes that appear purple or violet in color. Purple eyes are very rare, but they do exist. So what causes purple eyes, and how common are they really? Here we’ll explore the genetics, causes, and prevalence of true purple eyes.
What Causes Purple Eyes?
For someone to have truly purple eyes, two different factors must come into play:
1. A low amount of melanin pigment in the iris
2. A Tyndall scattering effect
Melanin is the pigment that gives eyes (and skin and hair) their color. People with very little melanin in their irises tend to have light blue or gray eyes. But this alone doesn’t produce a purple hue.
The Tyndall effect is also needed. This is a phenomenon where shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more strongly than longer wavelengths. This is why the sky appears blue – the shorter blue wavelengths are scattered while the longer red wavelengths pass straight through.
In eyes, the Tyndall effect scatters light in the violet/blue range, giving very light eyes a purplish tone. So in combination with low melanin, the Tyndall effect can make eyes appear distinctly violet or purple.
Genetics of Purple Eyes
For someone to have violet or purple eyes, two copies of genes associated with low melanin production are required. These include:
– Pale iris gene: Isolated low melanin in the iris. Inherited as a recessive gene.
– Albinism: Lack of melanin production throughout body and eyes. Inherited as recessive gene.
– Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome: Rare genetic disorder leading to low melanin production. Autosomal recessive.
– Waardenburg Syndrome: Genetic mutation causing low melanin. Can be inherited in a dominant or recessive pattern.
So in most cases, both parents would need to carry and pass on the relevant low melanin genes for a child to exhibit purple eyes. That’s why the trait is so rare compared to blue eyes, which require only one copy of the associated gene variants.
Prevalence of Purple Eyes
True purple eyes are extremely rare globally. It’s estimated that only around 0.2% of the world’s population has violet or purple eyes. That’s just 1 in every 500 people!
By comparison, blue eyes are much more common at around 8% of the global population. And brown eyes encompass almost 80% of people worldwide.
Here’s a breakdown of the estimated prevalence of different eye colors:
| Eye Color | Global Prevalence |
|---|---|
| Brown | 79.5% |
| Blue | 8% |
| Hazel | 5% |
| Amber/Honey | 2% |
| Gray | 1.5% |
| Green | 2% |
| Violet/Purple | 0.2% |
So while a small fraction of people do have violet or purple eyes, they are certainly one of the rarest eye colors out there!
Notable People with Purple Eyes
Even though purple eyes are extremely uncommon, a handful of famous people are known for having violet or lavender-colored eyes:
– Elizabeth Taylor: The classic Hollywood actress was famous for her rare violet eyes.
– Vanessa Williams: The singer and actress has very light purplish-blue eyes.
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: The U.S. Representative has striking light eyes with a hint of violet.
– Pemba O: The Sherpa mountaineer known for climbing Everest has deep purple eyes.
– Kate Bosworth: The blonde actress has very light blue eyes that can look lavender.
So while true purple eyes are rare globally, they do pop up occasionally even among celebrities and public figures.
Can You Wear Contacts to Simulate Purple Eyes?
Since natural purple eyes are so rare, some people use color contact lenses to mimic the look. Contact lens manufacturers create lenses with various shades of violet, lavender, and light blue to produce a striking eye color.
However, these contacts will never look quite as vivid and realistic as natural purple eyes. The contacts tend to take on an artificial, costume-like look.
Nonetheless, colored contacts remain popular for simulated exotic eye colors like purple that are not found naturally in most people. But there are risks to prolonged wear, and ODs recommend proper eye health maintenance.
Conclusion
In summary, true violet or purple eyes are quite rare, occurring naturally in less than 1% of people worldwide. They require a combination of genetics leading to minimal melanin production in the iris, along with a Tyndall light scattering effect. Because purple eye coloration relies on rare genetic variants, it tends not to run strongly in families. While contacts can mimic the look of purple eyes, they lack the depth and vividness of natural purple irises, which remain exceptionally uncommon. So if you ever meet someone with brilliant violet-colored eyes, you’ll be seeing a genuinely exotic and striking eye color!
