Eyes that appear violet or purple are often described as alluring and mesmerizing. But just how rare are violet eyes, and do certain races or ethnicities have higher rates of this unique eye color? In this article, we’ll explore the origins and genetics behind violet eyes, look at global populations where they can be found, and discuss some famous people with violet hued eyes.
What Causes Violet Eyes?
For an eye to appear violet, it must have low levels of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives eyes their color. The more melanin present, the darker the eye color. Violet eyes have minimal melanin in the iris, allowing light to scatter and reflect off underlying tissue and blood vessels to produce a blue-violet hue.
Here are some key factors that contribute to violet eye color:
- Low melanin levels – Less melanin means less pigment to obscure the light scattering effects that give eyes their bluish tones.
- Thinning of iris tissue – A thinner iris allows more light to pass through and reflect back, intensifying violet hues.
- Light Rayleigh scattering – Shorter wavelength blue light scatters more easily than longer wavelengths, producing blue and violet hues.
Genetically, violet eyes are a variant of blue eyes caused by low melanin levels. They are often described as an extreme case of blue eyed genetics. However, some eyes appear more gray-blue while others are a richer violet, suggesting polygenic factors may further influence the eye’s hue and light scattering properties.
Global Distribution of Violet Eyes
Violet eyes are globally very rare and occur at highest rates among populations where blue eyes are also common. The table below shows estimates of violet eye prevalence by region:
| Region | Estimated Violet Eye % |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | 0.2% |
| Eastern Europe | 0.1% |
| Southern Europe | Less than 0.1% |
| United States | 0.17% |
| Worldwide | Less than 0.1% |
As shown, violet eyes occur most frequently among those of Northern European ancestry, especially people indigenous to Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Prevalence remains below 0.5% even in Northern European nations however.
Outside of Europe, violet eyes are extremely rare globally but can occasionally occur among those of European descent living in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Ethnicities/Races with Highest Violet Eye Rates
Here are some of the key ethnic groups and races with higher percentages of violet eyes:
- Scandinavian – Indigenous people of Northern European descent, including Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, and Finns have some of the highest violet eye rates in the world at around 0.2-0.5%.
- Icelandic – Icelandic people have a relatively high percentage of violet eyes, with some estimates placing it near 2% of the native population.
- Germanic/Teutonic – This broad group descended from ancient Germanic tribes of Northern Europe also has elevated violet eye rates.
- Eastern European – Slavic ethnic groups indigenous to countries like Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and the Balkans have low but present percentages of violet eyes.
- Irish/Celtic – Irish and other Celtic people indigenous to the British Isles have infrequent but occurring violet eyes.
Overall, violet eyes arise most frequently among ethnicities originating in Northern and Eastern Europe. However, even among these groups, true rich violet hues remain very rare.
Famous People with Violet Eyes
Despite their rarity, violet eyes have captured the public’s attention on some celebrities and models. Here are a few famous people known for their violet eye color:
- Elizabeth Taylor – This classic Hollywood actress was famous for her violet eyes.
- Thandie Newton – This British actress has distinctive light violet eyes.
- Kate Bosworth – The American actress has been described as having violet-blue eyes.
- Alexandra Daddario – Her eyes are a light blue-violet hue.
While not truly violet, some other public figures like Vanessa Hudgens and Sophie Turner have extremely light blue eyes that can photograph with violet tones.
Causes of Violet Eyes Appearing Over Time
Some people report their eye color becoming more violet over time. There are a few possible causes behind this:
- Decreased melanin – Melanin production may lessen slightly with age, reducing eye pigment.
- Thinning iris tissue – The iris can thin over time, allowing more light through.
- Oxidation – Chemical changes to melanin pigments may shift more towards violet hues.
- Lighting conditions – Violet tones can become more apparent in different lighting.
While eye color can appear to shift in certain conditions, a true increase in violet pigment is unlikely. The appearance is usually due to external factors like lighting and thinning of the iris.
Conclusion
In summary, violet eye color arises from very low melanin levels combined with favorable light scattering conditions in the iris and surrounding tissue. It remains globally rare but occurs slightly more frequently among those of Northern European ancestry. While mesmerizing, true rich violet hues remain uncommon even among populations where light eyes are prevalent. The genetics and polygenic factors behind violet eyes are not fully understood and warrant further study to better understand this rare and striking eye color variant.