Amber eyes are one of the rarest eye colors in the world, only found in a very small percentage of the population. But why exactly are amber eyes so uncommon? The main reason is genetics.
What Causes Amber Eyes?
For someone to have amber eyes, two things need to happen genetically:
- The person needs to carry a recessive gene for light eyes – blue, green or amber.
- The person also needs to produce an abnormally low amount of melanin pigment in the iris.
Melanin is the pigment that gives eyes their color. It comes in two forms – eumelanin which produces brown/black pigment and pheomelanin which produces reddish/yellow pigment. Most people produce high levels of eumelanin in their irises, which results in brown eyes.
Amber eyes occur when you produce very small amounts of melanin overall. This causes the light scatter effect that makes eyes appear amber – a mix of the low melanin color combined with reflection and diffraction of light through the iris.
Low Melanin Production is Rare
Low melanin production is relatively uncommon genetically. Research has found that amber eyes are most often seen in people who carry mutations in the OCA2 or SLC45A2 genes. These genes help regulate melanin production.
Mutations in these genes can reduce the amount of melanin created in the body. When melanin production is extremely low, it can cause a condition called ocular albinism where the eyes and often skin and hair appear very light.
However, most people with amber eyes don’t have these mutations. Their bodies simply produce melanin on the low end of the normal spectrum, likely due to variations in other genes involved in pigment production.
Other Factors Influencing Amber Eyes
While low melanin is the main cause of amber eyes, there are a few other factors that can influence this eye color:
- Rayleigh scattering – This is the scattering of light through particles in the iris. It’s the same phenomenon that makes the sky blue. Scattering contributes to the light golden color of amber eyes.
- Lipochrome – Lipochromes are yellow pigments produced along with melanin. Higher lipochrome levels can add to the golden/amber color.
- Iris thickness – Thinner irises with less melanin allow more light to reflect out, creating a lighter eye color.
Geographic Differences in Amber Eyes
Amber eyes appear to be more common in certain parts of the world. Areas where amber eyes are seen more frequently include:
- Northern Europe
- Southern Europe
- West Asia/Middle East
- North Africa
- Central Asia
This may be connected to differences in genetic ancestry. Changes in genes connected to melanin production likely became more common in these areas over time.
The table below shows the highest percentages of amber eyes by country based on limited photographic evidence:
| Country | Amber Eyes % |
|---|---|
| Iceland | 8% |
| Netherlands | 4% |
| Denmark | 3% |
| Finland | 2% |
| Northern Italy | 1.5% |
However, even in places where amber eyes are most prevalent, they are still very unusual. Most countries have an amber eyed population of less than 1%.
Amber Eyes Usually Develop in Childhood
Unlike some other eye colors, amber eyes are generally stable from childhood onward. The melanin levels and light scattering effects don’t tend to change significantly with age.
However, there are a few interesting aspects about the development of this eye color:
- Babies with amber eyes usually show signs shortly after birth. Their irises are lighter than typical infant blue/grey eyes.
- Amber eyes may darken slightly in early childhood as melanin production increases. But they typically stabilize by age 3-5 years.
- The final eye color can vary under different lighting conditions. Amber eyes may appear more brown or hazel in some settings.
Amber Eyes with Different Hair and Skin Types
What hair and skin colors are associated with amber eyes? Here are some typical pairings:
- Hair – Amber eyes most often occur with blonde, dirty blonde, red, auburn or light brown hair. The light hair colors match the low melanin content of the irises.
- Skin – Those with amber eyes usually have very fair or lightly tanned skin, again matching the melanin levels in their genetics. Some small numbers of amber-eyed people have olive complexions.
However, since amber eye color is so rare, it can occasionally occur with darker hair and skin types as well. But the combination is much less common compared to light features.
Are Amber Eyes Connected to Health Issues?
Do amber eye color variations come with any health or vision implications? For the most part, amber eyes themselves do not directly cause issues.
Some possible associations include:
- Light sensitivity – Due to light scattering, some amber-eyed people are more easily blinded by bright lights at night. Sunglasses can help during the day.
- Nystagmus – Rapid involuntary eye movement. This is sometimes seen in those with ocular albinism and very low melanin.
- Refractive errors – Low pigment may contribute to focusing problems like near-sightedness in some cases.
However, most people with amber/light golden eyes have normal vision and eye health. There are no negative effects directly tied to this eye color itself.
Conclusion
In summary, amber eye color is rare for two main reasons:
- The genetic mutations that allow low melanin production are uncommon.
- Both low melanin and recessive light eye genes must be present to produce amber eyes.
This unusual combo only occurs in an estimated 1 in 10,000 – 100,000 people worldwide. While more common in certain ethnic backgrounds, amber remains one of the least prevalent eye shades globally.
The rarity and unusual beauty of amber eyes make them particularly striking. Their uniqueness and warm golden glow capture attention and fascination wherever they occur around the world.
