Purple eyes are one of the rarest eye colors in humans. Some people do have true purple irises, but they are extremely uncommon. The appearance of purple eyes is usually caused by a genetic mutation called Alexandria’s Genesis, which causes the eyes to appear more purple under certain lighting conditions. However, true purple iris pigmentation is possible but incredibly rare.
What Causes Purple Eyes?
In most cases, eyes that appear purple are not actually true purple. Instead, they are a mix of blue and red that can look purple under certain lighting. This can occur for a few reasons:
– Alexandria’s Genesis – A very rare genetic mutation that causes lighter hair and skin, and eyes that appear purple. The eyes are actually pale blue, but can look purple.
– Low melanin and light scattering – People with less melanin in their irises allow more light to pass through and scatter. This makes lighter eyes like blue and gray appear more purple.
– Albinism – Lack of pigment causes very pale blue eyes that can look lavender or pinkish.
– Eye injury or disease – In some cases, trauma to the eye or conditions like glaucoma can change the color of the iris and make it appear more purple.
So in most cases, true purple irises do not occur naturally. But there are a very small number of people in the world who do have true purple eyes due to unique genetics.
True Purple Eyes
While very rare, some people are born with eyes that contain true purple pigmentation in the iris. Unlike eye colors that only appear purple under certain lighting, truly purple eyes will remain that hue under any lighting conditions.
This occurs through a combination of two unique genetic traits:
– Low melanin levels – Melanin is the pigment that gives eyes their color. Less melanin results in lighter eye colors like blue and green. People with purple eyes have very low levels of melanin.
– Fuchs’ heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) – This is a rareeye disorder in which the iris loses pigmentation and becomes lighter. When combined with low melanin, it can produce true violet or purple eyes.
Both of these genetic factors must be present to produce a truly purple iris. The low melanin levels lighten the eye color, while the FHI removes even more pigment. When all color has been stripped from the iris, it appears violet instead of blue.
This is different from conditions like albinism that remove all pigment. Purple eyes still have some melanin, just very low levels combined with the FHI mutation.
Prevalence of True Purple Eyes
It’s impossible to know exactly how many people in the world have naturally purple eyes. However, estimates put the number at around 200 – 300 people total.
That makes true purple eyes incredibly rare – most people will never meet someone with this eye color in their lifetime. It’s likely that less than 0.001% of the global population has natural violet irises.
This eye color seems to occur randomly in humans with no specific geographic or ethnic pattern. There have been cases reported sporadically across the globe, in people of different backgrounds.
Some key facts about the prevalence of purple eyes:
– Estimated 200 – 300 people worldwide
– No particular gender, ethnic, or geographic tendency
– Less than 0.001% of people
– No way to predict or inherit purple eyes
So while possible, true purple irises are exceptionally rare globally. Only a handful of people will ever exhibit this unique eye color.
Famous People with Purple Eyes
Due to the extreme rarity of natural purple eyes, there are very few well-known people who have them. Most alleged cases of purple eyes in celebrities are unconfirmed or just appear that color due to lighting or lenses.
However, a handful of famous figures throughout history are believed to have truly had violet-hued eyes:
– **Queen Elizabeth I** – The famous 16th century Queen of England. Many historical accounts describe her as having purple eyes.
– **Alexander the Great** – The Macedonian king is rumored to have had purple eyes, contributing to his mythic status. However, there are no proven contemporary accounts of this.
– **Cleopatra** – Some historians believe the Egyptian queen may have had violet eyes, though this is unconfirmed.
– **Muhammad Ali** – The legendary American boxer apparently had some natural purple pigment in his eyes. However, it was likely mixed with blue rather than a true violet iris.
– **Elizabeth Taylor** – The iconic Hollywood actress was famed for her violet eyes. However, this color was likely caused by a combination of blue and light scattering rather than true purple pigmentation.
So while some famous historical figures may have had purple eyes, most alleged cases are either unproven or probably caused by lighting conditions and low melanin levels rather than true violet pigment. Verified purple irises remain extremely rare.
Can Purple Eyes Be Inherited?
Because true purple eyes depend on two separate rare genetic mutations, this eye color does not seem to be inherited. There are no documented cases of purple eyes running in families.
The traits that cause purple eyes – very low melanin and Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) – are not connected. Each one occurs randomly on its own, through a fluke of genetics.
For someone to be born with natural violet eyes, they would need to independently inherit both the low melanin levels AND FHI, which is statistically extremely unlikely.
There are no genetic or ethnic groups known to carry these traits. So while parents with purple eyes could theoretically pass those genes down, it has not been observed scientifically. The current evidence suggests that purple eyes occur sporadically, rather than being familial.
However, the genetics behind this rare eye color are not fully understood. So there remains a small possibility that purple eyes could be passed down in families if both crucial genes were present. Additional study is needed to confirm if this is possible or not.
Can You Develop Purple Eyes Later in Life?
Your eye color is determined by the amount and type of pigment you are born with. So it is extremely unlikely for someone to develop true purple eyes later in life.
However, there are some rare scenarios in which your eye color could shift slightly over time or appear more purple:
– Increased Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) – If someone with blue eyes developed this iris condition later in life, it could reduce pigment and make their eyes look more violet.
– Eye trauma or disease – Injury, glaucoma, or other eye disorders can sometimes affect the iris and cause subtle color changes.
– Aging – Over time, the collagen fibers in the iris may start to clump together. This could make lighter eyes like blue take on a deeper, more purple-like hue.
– Certain medications – In very rare cases, medications like some hepatitis drugs, antidepressants, or synthetic hormones may alter someone’s eye color a bit.
But the only way to develop true violet or purple eyes is to be born with the necessary genetic conditions. A person with brown, green, or hazel eyes is extremely unlikely to ever acquire purple irises later in life without artificial color contact lenses.
Conclusion
In summary, true naturally purple eyes are extraordinarily rare, but can occur in a handful of people worldwide thanks to unusual genetics. However, many alleged cases of purple eyes are probably just very light blues that only appear violet in certain lighting.
To have real purple pigment in the iris requires being born with both extremely low melanin levels and a condition called Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis. This combination strips away almost all color from the iris, leaving behind a vivid violet hue.
While possible, inheriting these two separate mutations is statistically improbable – so purple eyes do not appear to run in families. And once you are born with a certain eye color, it is highly unlikely to shift to an entirely different pigment later in life.
So if you ever come across someone with vivid violet irises, you have likely stumbled upon an extraordinarily rare genetic rarity! True purple is one of the most beautiful and unique eye colors out there.
