From which different eyes. Different color (heterochromia) of the eyes in people: photos, types, reasons. What to do and how to treat heterochromia

Heterochromia (from the Greek. ἕτερος and χρῶμα , which means "different color") is a rather rare occurrence when a person has a different eye color. Characteristically, eye heterochromia in humans can manifest itself not only in different colors of the right and left visual organs, but also in the color of the iris, which can occur due to the uneven distribution of melanin (coloring pigment) in the shell.

Eyes of different colors. What should you be aware of?

On a note! If melanin is unevenly distributed in one or two eyes, or there is too little or too much of it, this leads to such a phenomenon as heterochromia.

The specific color depends on what color the pigment is in excess / deficiency (it can be blue, yellow and brown). As noted earlier, the phenomenon is rare (about 1% of the world's inhabitants) and, which is typical, more often in women than in men. However, no physiological / anatomical prerequisites for such gender “inequality” were identified.

Heterochromia is not considered a pathology, because, in addition to the external effect (eyes of different colors do not always look attractive), it is not accompanied by any visual disturbances. But this applies only to those cases when the condition is congenital, that is, not associated with concomitant eye diseases.

The main types of heterochromia

Depending on the factors that cause heterochromia, it can be hereditary or acquired. According to another classification, it is divided into three types, let's get acquainted with them.

Table. Varieties of heterochromia.

People with different colored eyes. Photo

In the photo below you can see the different types of the phenomenon described in the article.

Why does heterochromia appear?

So why can a person's eyes have different colors? To the main reasons, as well as to the prerequisites for development this phenomenon, can be attributed:

• heredity;
• all sorts of injuries, for example - the ingress of foreign objects into the organs of vision. Such injuries can cause darkening of the eyes. And if, say, the gray / blue iris is damaged, then it may eventually turn brown either;

• Fuchs syndrome. It is characterized by developing inflammatory processes in the tissues of the organs of vision. Other signs include blurred vision, as well as complete / partial loss of vision;
• side effects of a number of drugs used for treatment;
• neurofibromatosis.

Note! In most cases, it is hereditary heterochromia that is observed. Therefore, if the phenomenon was detected in one of the parents, then it is more than 50% likely that the child will have it (to a lesser or greater extent).

Depending on the cause of the occurrence of heterochromia, it can be simple, complicated and acquired. Acquired form- This is when the color of the eye changes after the use of glaucoma medications or as a result of an injury. In addition, it can appear after copper or iron gets into the eyes - in the first case, the phenomenon is called chalcosis, and in the second, siderosis.

Complicated heterochromia develops due to Fuchs syndrome, although it is quite difficult to diagnose it in some cases, because the eye does not always undergo significant changes. Although there are additional signs that determine the complicated form of the phenomenon:

• deterioration of vision;
• the appearance of precipitates (these are floating white formations in the eye);
• dystrophic changes in the iris;
• cataract.

As for simple heterochromia, then it develops without any disease; often reveal a simple congenital form, most clearly manifested in children under the age of 2 years.

Although the reasons may be different, not entirely normal - for example, Horner's or Waardenburg's syndrome.

Video: Why do people have different colors of eyes?

About diagnosis and treatment

Important information! Treatment of heterochromia is not always mandatory, although after a number of diagnostic measures, a specific therapy regimen may be prescribed (here it all depends on the specific cause of development).

As a rule, experts determine all this visually. Then, if required, a special examination is prescribed, thanks to which it is possible to identify pathological changes in tissues, which led to heterochromia. If, in addition to changing the color of the iris, other symptoms are not observed, and vision does not deteriorate, then no treatment is required. By the way, in such cases, even with the help of medication or surgery, the natural color of the iris cannot be changed.

If the anomaly is provoked by a violation of the integrity of the iris or some kind of eye disease, then steroid drugs will be used for treatment. With clouding of the lens, if steroids have not given any effect, vitrectomy is prescribed (surgical removal of the vitreous body - partial or complete).

Note! If the color of the iris has changed due to the fact that metal shavings have got into the eyes, then the problem is solved by removing the foreign body and then carrying out drug therapy. After that, the color of the eye should be normalized.

Video: Change eye color without lenses

As you can see, in the case of an acquired form of heterochromia, it is imperative to visit an ophthalmologist. A qualified specialist will assess how dangerous the anomaly is and, if necessary, prescribe appropriate therapy. And with a congenital form, such an intervention is not required, because heterochromia does not affect vision either positively or negatively.

Celebrities with heterochromia

mass media Special attention give the appearance of celebrities - athletes, singers, actors - and look for the slightest hint of deviation. On Wikipedia, for example, you can find a large list of famous personalities with different eye colors (more or less pronounced). This, for example, Mila Kunis - the actress of Ukrainian origin has one blue eye and the other brown. Jane Seymour, a popular British actress, also has eye heterochromia, as does Kate Bosworth, Kiefer Sutherland, Benedict Cumberbatch and many others. And David Bowie, by the way, acquired this anomaly - it appeared after an injury received in a fight.

On a note! If you believe the ancient Greek historian Arrian, then Alexander the Great also had a different eye color.

As a conclusion. Heterochromia among animals

But in animals, such an anomaly occurs much more often than in humans. Heterochromia can be seen not only in dogs or cats, but also in cows, horses, and buffaloes.

As a rule, the anomaly manifests itself in whites (partially or completely cats). As for dogs, they may have an anomaly in representatives of breeds such as the Siberian Husky. Horses with heterochromia usually have one eye white / blue and the other brown. And one more curious fact: eyes of different colors are observed mainly in animals with piebald color.

Video: Multi-colored eyes in humans (heterochromia)

Eyes different in color - this phenomenon is called heterochromia. This does not happen often, so many of us are surprised by people with different eye colors and sizes. The iris is able to change its shade throughout life, but in the overwhelming majority of cases, the phenomenon is congenital.

Different eyes: for some it is a highlight, while for others it is an unpleasant feature.

Someone thinks that meeting a person with different eyes is good luck, and some, on the contrary, shy away from such people. So why does this happen, and what does it mean?

What does it mean?

Heterochromia cannot be ranked either as a disease or as any mystical sign. According to experts, the owners of different eyes do not have any "magic". The shade of the iris reflects the content of the pigment substance melanin in it, which explains this or that color.

Heterochromia cannot in any way affect the quality of visual function - this is only a feature of the body. In some cases, the color of one eye can change during life - for example, after mechanical damage.

People with heterochromia, of course, stand out from the general stream and attract increased attention. Few people are indifferent to them: basically, such a phenomenon is either admired or afraid of it.

Different eyes can occur not only in humans, but also in many animals. The owners of different eyes are often cats - and there is an opinion among the people that "different-eyed" pets attract good luck and happiness to the house.

What do different eyes say about a person?

Undoubtedly, different eyes Is a kind of anomaly. But this kind of phenomenon in no way means that a person is inferior or unambiguously sick. Yes, latent pathology is possible - but not in all cases. Among the rare hereditary diseases that are accompanied by the appearance of eyes of different colors, we can name the little-known Waardenburg syndrome. The syndrome is characterized by the appearance of other signs:

• hearing loss of varying severity;
• a lock of gray hair over the frontal area.

Another possible pathology is neurofibromatosis, in which the function of several organs and systems in the body is impaired. Simultaneously with eyes of different colors, such a patient can observe spots on the skin of a light coffee shade, neurofibromas and the so-called Lish nodules.

To make sure that different eyes are not a disease, you need to visit a doctor. It is advisable to undergo a medical examination annually to avoid possible complications.

Beliefs

Since ancient times, people with different eye colors have been openly avoided: according to legends, they were considered unsafe for other, "normal" residents. Neither science nor medicine at that time could explain such a phenomenon, and what is inexplicable is mysticism. This is the point of view that people who lived many centuries ago adhered to.

It is no secret that in many countries, the "odd-eyed" owners were usually considered a devilish family. It is not for nothing that in the paintings painted in the old days, Satan was always depicted with different eyes: one is bluish, and the second is black.

If a baby with a similar feature was born in the family, then his mother was immediately accused of a devilish relationship - that is, she was counted among the witches.

In addition, it was believed that a person with eyes of different colors can jinx. Therefore, they tried to stay away from him, and during the conversation they avoided a direct glance and hurried to leave. Moreover, if a fire broke out in the district or cattle died, it was the resident suspected of being in connection with the devil who was accused of all the troubles - the owner of a different shade of eyes.

Fortunately, nowadays people have practically got rid of superstition. On the contrary, many people consider having different eyes a sign of good luck and good luck. To meet such a person on the street today is a good omen.

ICD-10 code

H21 Other disorders of iris and ciliary body

Q10 Congenital malformations of the eyelid, lacrimal apparatus and orbit

Statistics

Different eyes are a relatively rare phenomenon that occurs in approximately 0.8% of the world's population, and mainly in women.

Heterochromia in most cases is congenital.

In the animal world, different eye colors are much more common than in humans. You can observe this picture in cats, dogs, horses, cows.

Causes of different eye colors

If a person was born with different eyes, then sometimes this can become a sign of separate pathologies. For example, this symptom is accompanied by:

• pigment dispersion syndrome - the so-called pigment glaucoma, in which the pigment is washed out from the pigment epithelium;
• vitiligo - a skin disease in which pigmentation is lost against the background of the destruction of melanin;
• Waardenburg syndrome is an inherited disorder that is transmitted in an irregular autosomal dominant manner;
• ocular melanosis - congenital malformation of the sclera;
• hypoplasia of the iris, or its incomplete development;
• Bloch-Siemens syndrome (Sulzberger) - pigment incontinence, pigmented dermatosis.

If the shade of the iris has changed already at an older age, then this phenomenon may indicate the development of ophthalmic inflammatory processes, tumors, hemosiderosis, etc.

Often, the shade of the iris changes due to injury or even after the use of certain eye medications.

However, you should not immediately think about the presence of the disease: most often the color change is due to a condition such as mosaicism. The causes of mosaicism are unknown: presumably, the main factor in development is mutation, but there is still no reliable information on this issue.

Why do people have different eye colors?

The color of the eyes is determined by the property of the iris. The level of melanin in the iris, the frequency and uniformity of pigment distribution determine the color and its saturation: from brownish-black to light bluish.

The type of color shade is formed within 1-3 months after the baby is born, and the eye color that a person will have "in life" is fixed only by 1-2 years. If there is little pigment in the iris, then the shade of the eyes will be light, and if there is a lot of melanin, then it will be dark. If a different amount of pigment is concentrated in different parts of the iris, or it is unevenly distributed, then heterochromia can develop - a condition when people have different eye colors.

Pathogenesis

Depending on the degree and type of pigmentation of the iris, several varieties of this condition are distinguished:

• Complete heterochromia (both eyes have a different shade).
• Partial heterochromia (one eye has several color shades at the same time).
• Central heterochromia (the iris has a series of full color rings).

Most often, you can observe the first type - complete heterochromia, for example, if the color of one and the other eye differ dramatically.

Medical professionals sometimes face pathology that develops as a result of damage to the iris. Such a pathology can be:

• simple, due to congenital underdevelopment of the cervical sympathetic nerve;
• complex (uveitis accompanying Fuchs syndrome).

There are cases when people changed the color of one of the eyes after mechanical damage to the organ of vision by an object made of iron or copper. This phenomenon is called metallosis (depending on the type of metal - siderosis or chalcosis): along with signs inflammatory process in the eyeball, a change in the shade of the iris occurs. Most often, in a similar situation, the iris becomes rusty-brownish, less often greenish-blue.

Different eye sizes in humans

Eye pathologies are often symptomatic. For example, such diseases are characterized by reddening of the conjunctiva, a burning sensation, and the appearance of discharge. Less commonly, you can notice another symptom: a different size of eyes in a person. With prolonged inflammation, the location of one eye may appear higher.

In young children, a similar phenomenon may be associated with underdevelopment of muscles and nerve fibers in cervical spine which affects the function of the muscles of the face. Visually, this can be expressed in a change in the size of the eyes.

It is important to pay attention to other symptoms that occur: if the patient has impaired pronunciation, the facial muscles are immobilized, paresis of the extremities occurs, then the help of a neurologist should be urgent.

Another likely reason one eye is getting smaller is an inflammatory process affecting the facial nerve. Inflammation often occurs as a result of hypothermia or dental problems.

Of course, it is not always necessary to suspect a pathology: sometimes people are born with different eye sizes, and this is their feature, which has nothing to do with the pathological condition. If the size of the eyes has changed during life, then a doctor's consultation should be mandatory.

The nature of people with different eye colors

Some psychologists are inclined to believe that people with eyes of different colors have pronounced contradictions between their internal state and external manifestations. Simply put, these people are not who they want to appear. Perhaps from the outside they look selfish, withdrawn, or vice versa - shocking and even a little crazy. In most cases, all these are just external manifestations. In fact, such people often have their own hobbies, they like to do household chores, they are self-controlled and patient.

It is also believed that people with different eyes are very sensitive and stubborn. Perhaps this is so. However, do not forget that we are all different, with our own characteristics and characters. Therefore, parallels cannot be drawn: a person has different eyes - which means that he is not like everyone else. Each person is different, regardless of the shade of his eyes.

Consequences and complications

For any reason, different eye colors, it is advisable to periodically consult an eye doctor - ophthalmologist, or ophthalmologist. Most owners of different eyes do not have a problem as such - congenital heterochromia is most often completely harmless. But there are also exceptions to the rule. This is especially true for those patients in whom the color of the eyes began to differ already at an older age.

If the eyes have become different in the course of life, then you should definitely consult a doctor. Pathological disorders that could lead to the appearance of such a symptom, it is desirable to detect as early as possible in order to prevent the development of subsequent complications. Some of the most common problems occur:

• structural abnormalities in the eyeball.

Of course, in no case should you panic, but you shouldn't ignore the problem either. Observation of a medical specialist will certainly not be superfluous.

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Diagnostics of different eye colors

Diagnosis is usually not difficult if the heterochromia is hereditary. In the case when a different eye color is the only symptom, then further diagnosis and treatment is not prescribed.

When a doctor suspects a patient's pathology, he may resort to additional research.

A consultation of highly specialized doctors is appointed: in addition to an ophthalmologist, the patient can be examined by a dermatologist, neuropathologist, oncologist, geneticist, neurosurgeon, orthopedist.

The choice of further diagnostic methods depends on what kind of disease is suspected. It is possible to use such types of research:

• ophthalmoscopy - examination of the fundus;
• Ultrasound of the eyeball - examination of the structure of the eye and nearby tissues, such as the lens, retina, eye muscles, retrobulbar tissue, etc.;
• pachymetry - measurement of the thickness of the cornea, which is often carried out simultaneously with biomicroscopy;
• perimetry - a method for assessing the visual field to determine its borderline capabilities and shortcomings;
• gonioscopy - examination of the anterior chamber of the eye, which is located between the iris and the cornea;
• retinal angiography - examination of the fundus and the smallest vessels of the retina;
• electrooculography - determination of the activity of the eyeball;
• refractometry - diagnostics of the optical abilities of the eye.

Today there are a huge number of ophthalmological centers where any patient can undergo a full eye examination. But it is better to contact only specialized clinics that have both the required diagnostic equipment and qualified specialists who can correctly explain and interpret the research results.

Differential diagnosis

Some pathological conditions with which differential diagnosis should be carried out can lead to a change in the color shade of the iris.

The change in the color of the iris may be due to:

• with congenital features;
• with the presence of Horner's syndrome.

Heterochromia can accompany:

• oculo-dermal melanocytosis (Oty's nevus);
• post-traumatic siderosis;
• Sturge-Weber syndrome;
• melanoma or diffuse nevus of the iris.

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However, sometimes the need for therapy is still present:

• Surgical treatment is prescribed only in extreme situations - for example, with cataracts or Fuchs syndrome.
• External treatment with steroid hormones is appropriate for the further development of the painful process.
• The operation may also be necessary in case of eye injury: in order to remove a foreign body.

Any eye injury can provoke the development of the inflammatory process and even loss of vision. In such a situation, the doctor prescribes treatment with antibacterial drops and miotics.

Forecast

Different eye color is usually a stable condition that stays with a person for life. If a foreign object gets in - siderosis or chalcosis, the color shade can return to its previous state, provided that all foreign body particles are removed.

In most cases, people with different eye colors and sizes remain so for life: the restoration of iris pigmentation is considered unlikely.

Famous people with different eye colors

Many ordinary people show particular interest in the external features of famous people, which include actors, artists, athletes, and politicians. On the Internet, you can find a relatively large number of famous personalities who differ in any of the heterochromia variants.

For example, the full or partial version of "different eyes" is noted in such famous people:

• Mila Kunis: on the left side she is brown-eyed, and on the right - blue-eyed;
• Jane Seymour: the eye on the right side is greenish brown, and on the left side is green;
• Kate Boswot: on the left is a blue eye, and on the right is a bluish brown;
• Kiefer Sutherland has sectoral heterochromia: a mixture of blue and gray;
• David Bowie has post-traumatic heterochromia.

Historical literature indicates the fact that Alexander the Great had different colors of eyes. According to the description of the Greek chronicler Arrian, Macedonian had one black eye and the other bluish.

Literary characters with different eyes can also be cited as an example:

• Woland is one of the main characters in Mikhail Bulgakov's cult work The Master and Margarita;
• Vasily Semyonov is a tank commander from the book by Janusz Pshimanovsky "Four Tankmen and a Dog".

Why dream of a person with different eyes

The eyes of many people are associated with something metaphysical, symbolic and even magical. Therefore, seeing them in a dream, subconsciously there is an illusion of some sign, an indication that requires decoding.

Dreams often reflect the emotional experiences of the sleeper. Therefore, the detailed details of what he saw in a dream can tell about a lot - and not only about the past, but also about the future - about what fate has prepared for a person.

What can be said about a dream in which a person appears with different colors or sizes of eyes? As a rule, this indicates the presence in life of a connection with a deceiver and a two-faced person. Such a deceiver may be a companion, business partner or life partner, a close relative.

Often, such dreams are dreamed of by people with vulnerable nervous system who are depressed, depressed, or feel rejected and abandoned.

Most often, we pay attention to the eyes when we meet someone. No wonder they are called the mirror of the soul. And, of course, we immediately notice their color. Unusual, bright shades irises always attract attention. We are used to the fact that the left and right eyes are the same color. But it happens that they are different, for example, brown and green.

Our iris has several basic colors: brown, gray, light blue, blue, green, black, olive, amber (hazel). The most common eye color on earth is brown, since it is carried by representatives of two large races that make up the main population of the planet - Negroid and Mongoloid. The rarest color of the iris is green, found in only 2% of the inhabitants of the Earth. There are also variations such as turquoise or emerald. But there is another rare category of people who have eyes of different colors. These can be such options: blue and brown, green and gray, and others. This anomaly is called heterochromia, and it occurs in only 1% of the population.

What is eye heterochromia?

Heterochromia is a different color of the iris in the left and right eyes, or an inhomogeneous color of areas of the iris in one of them. Its tone is determined by the concentration and distribution of melanin in the anterior (mesodermal) layer. In the case of eye heterochromia, this pigment is either not enough, or, conversely, it is present in excess. In the overwhelming majority of cases, this is a congenital anomaly, and only sometimes (for example, in case of cataract disease, trauma to the organs of vision, hemorrhage in the tissue of the organs of vision, Fuchs syndrome and for other reasons) the pigmentation of melanin may be disturbed. Acquired heterochromia can be corrected with surgery, but congenital heterochromia cannot be cured. This disease also has various forms.

Types of eye heterochromia in humans

This pigmentation disorder also has several varieties that differ visually, and also have different causes and consequences.

Complete heterochromia

The most common type is when a person has two uniformly colored irises of different colors. The most common variations are a combination of hazel and green, hazel and blue. This is a congenital feature that does not pose a threat to the organs of vision. With her, a person sees as well as people with the same color of eyes.

Sector heterochromia (partial)

It is caused by staining one of the eyes in different tones. With this form of iris heterochromia, there can be as many options as you like: in half, in quarters, there are wavy borders (a rare case). This is due to the uneven distribution of melanin during the formation of color in the first six months of life.

Central heterochromia

With this deviation, several clearly pronounced rings of different colors can be distinguished. It looks quite original, and some do not even suspect that they have a rare iris pigmentation abnormality, proud of their unusual eyes.

Metallic heterochromia

A rare species caused by mechanical damage. It occurs when metal particles (bronze, copper) get into the upper layer of the iris or sclera. Such a foreign body several microns in size is insensitive to the eye. Over time, the iron element, being in a humid environment, begins to oxidize and leads to the formation of a pigment, usually a rusty green or light green hue. Even when the scale is removed, the phenomenon does not disappear. Usually this type of anomaly occurs in people associated with the production of metals.

Heterochromia in animals

Almost all fauna, except for birds and reptiles, is subject to this unusual phenomenon. Among domestic animals, it is found in black or white cats, in dogs only of certain breeds, for example, huskies or malamutes. Unlike heterochromia in humans, animals have only one type of this disorder - complete, sector or central absent.

How can heterochromia threaten eye health?

The amount of melanin in the iris, of course, cannot in any way affect the quality of vision. But there are times when the change in pigmentation is caused by any disease, for example, Fuchs syndrome (which can lead to the development of cataracts or glaucoma), siderosis or chalcosis (ingestion of copper salts in the iris). If you notice a change in its color, then this is a reason to consult a doctor to find out the reasons. This fact suggests that some kind of violation has occurred in the body's work, and this is only an indicator. With congenital heterochromia, nothing threatens the eyes.

Heterochromia of Human Eyes: How to Treat?

We must say right away that if this anomaly is congenital, then it cannot be treated and corrected. With the help of the operation, it is possible to get rid of only the defect acquired due to any reason. In all other cases, there is a high probability that the color of the iris will be restored to you, but this, again, depends on the reason. With the above-mentioned metallic heterochromia, it will no longer be possible to correct it. Despite this, many people consider such a feature even piquant and pride themselves on being different from the rest. Central heterochromia or sectorial looks especially unusual and interesting.

Many celebrities are also not shy about heterochromia. For example, Mila Kunis, Mila Jovovich, Demi Moore and other famous Hollywood stars have eyes of different colors and believe that this unusual fact to some extent even contributed to their popularity, attracting attention. For filming, they use means of contact vision correction, and the rest of the time they feel great.

Contact lenses for the correction of heterochromia

The easiest and safest method to adjust this violation- use modern decorative optics for this. Ophthalmic product manufacturers offer a huge range of contact tinted and colored lenses with which you can hide this defect. Some people with complete heterochromia (for example, one eye is blue and the other brown) buy models of the desired colors and change the iris the way they want it. If, at the same time, a person has myopia or farsightedness, then he can purchase lenses with the appropriate diopters. If you have good vision, you can simply select the 0.00 option with zero power.

So, heterochromia - a congenital pigmentation disorder of the iris - does not threaten any health consequences if it is not the result of any internal diseases or mechanical damage. People with this ailment themselves have different attitudes towards it. Someone considers this a piquant feature and does not hide it, someone wears decorative lenses to hide different eyes. But congenital heterochromia of the iris membrane can be called rather a rare, unique gift from nature. Many people born with her are gifted, creative individuals, and the example above proves this.

The eyes play a huge role in a person's appearance. Some people even wear lenses of a different color in order to radically change the image. But there are times when you don't need any lenses to get attention. You've probably noticed men and women with different eye colors. And if you wondered why people have different eye colors and what this means, we will be happy to answer it.

How human eye color is formed

Our genetics have only three pigments to shape eye color. Yellow, blue and brown help to make up all the shades that we can observe in nature. Some of these components are present in greater quantities, some in less - as a result, we see brown, gray, green, blue eyes. Almost always, they are completely the same in appearance, but there are also unusual options when the color is completely different. We hasten to assure you: this difference affects only the appearance of a person and nothing else.

Different eye colors: what is it called?

This phenomenon is so non-standard that it was carefully studied by scientists and got its own name - heterochromia. Literally this word is translated as "another color". This feature occurs in ten people out of a thousand, but you should not think that it is striking in everyone. Heterochromia can be mild and noticeable only with careful eye comparison. Often, the sign is so weak that the person himself does not know about it. We see only what attracts attention - that is, the maximum differences.

Who can get heterochromia?

This phenomenon occurs in both men and women. But research has shown that the latter are much more likely to have different eye colors. Let's count this as a plus, because many ladies want to be unique and inimitable. But heterochromia is not a privilege of human appearance. It also manifests itself in animals: dogs, cats, horses.

Are the eyes always perfectly asymmetrical in color?

It does not necessarily happen that one eye is specifically brown and the other is pure blue. This phenomenon is more mysterious and non-standard. One eye can have one color, and the second can include two at once, and the border will be contrasting and bright. This does not affect the ability to see or perceive information in any way. If a person did not know that he possesses such a feature, he would never even feel that something is wrong. Let's consider in more detail the types of discord.

Complete heterochromia

In this case, the eyes are endowed with separate colors, colored evenly. The contrast is usually quite strong. The most common combination in nature is blue and brown. Moreover, animals have exactly the same pattern. If you look at the photos on the Internet, it will become clear: other combinations are much less common.

Partial heterochromia

We have already talked about this phenomenon. It involves partial staining in the same eye. The iris can be colored in half, just have some spots or sectors - there is no regularity here either, it all depends on the creativity of nature. Another such variant of an anomalous phenomenon is called a sector one.

Circular heterochromia

This is the rarest and most unique option. In this case, the iris is colored, as it were, with rings that are layered on top of each other. A person who has such a feature will definitely attract attention to himself - and in an era when everyone is striving for popularity, he may even make his zest as a part of PR.

Heredity

The simplest option is to get multi-colored eyes as a result of heredity. But this does not mean that such a trait will be transmitted from parents to children in the same family. Even among relatives, the phenomenon is most often unique, unusual. It's just that some kind of mutation occurred during the transfer of data, which became the cause of such a feature. But not everything is as happy as it might seem at once. The next factor is added to heredity, which must be taken into account.

Some diseases

Among the diseases that cause this phenomenon, one can distinguish: Horner's syndrome, type I neurofibromatosis, pigment dispersion, Waardenburg's syndrome, piebaldism, siderosis, brain tumor, melanoma, iridocyclitis. You can read about all these diseases on the Internet, but we do not recommend doing this - many people immediately begin to find symptoms in themselves that are not really relevant. The most correct approach is to go to the doctor, who will conduct the necessary research and will himself make a conclusion about whether it is worth worrying.

Eye injury

A person can get an eye injury in any circumstances - in everyday life, in an accident, in a fight, etc. In this case, a color change may also follow. Sometimes this is the only outcome of an unpleasant situation, which cannot but rejoice, because in other cases the consequences are even worse.

Can heterochromia be cured?

This phenomenon lends itself to treatment only when it appears as a result of the same injury or acquired disease. Then, in some cases, it is possible to restore the previous pigmentation if all negative factors are eliminated. When the phenomenon is hereditary and is the result of small disruptions in the genetic material, nothing can be done. But you shouldn't be upset about this either: eyes of different colors look very interesting, unusual and attract people's attention.

One of the features of appearance that distinguishes a person from others is the color of the eyes, or rather, their iris. The most common is brown eye color, the rarest is green. But there is another rarity - these are people with different eye colors. This phenomenon is called heterochromia, but it occurs not only in humans, but also in animals. Heterochromia - what is it? What are the reasons for its occurrence? You will learn about all this from this article.

What is heterochromia?

Heterochromia - what is it? With this phenomenon, different pigmentation of the eyes can be observed in humans. It is no secret that the color of the iris is determined by the presence and distribution of a pigment called melanin. If this substance is in excess or deficiency, then this can provoke a different color of the eyes. Heterochromia can occur in only 1% of the population.

Causes

Heterochromia - what is it, you already understood, now let's figure out the reasons for this phenomenon. In most cases, it is hereditary, and it can also be provoked by diseases, injuries or syndromes. Eye color can sometimes change after some injury or illness.

So consider possible reasons eye color changes:

• Neurofibromatosis.
• Mild inflammation that affects only one eye.
• Injury.
• Glaucoma or medications used to treat it.
• Foreign object in the eye.
• Hereditary (family) heterochromia.
• Hemorrhage (bleeding).

Who has it?

Heterochromia - what is it, a disease or a rare feature of the body? This phenomenon has no effect on the quality of vision, since a person is also able to perceive and see various shapes and colors, like people with the same eye color.

Statistics have shown that a different color of the iris is more typical for women than for men. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence showing the relationship between gender and heterochromia.

The most common is central when the color change of the iris occurs towards the center.

In rare cases, heterochromia appears as a result of the development pathological processes in the human body. In this case, this feature is considered as a symptom and the cause of its occurrence is treated, of course, after a thorough diagnosis.

Varieties

Depending on the causes of heterochromia, it is divided into three main types: simple, complicated and mechanical. Let's consider them in more detail.

Simple

This is the simplest variation of this phenomenon. At the same time, the person does not have other eye or systemic problems. In this case, a different color of the iris is observed in a person since his birth, and this in no way affects his health. However, this phenomenon is quite rare. It can be triggered by weakness of the cervical sympathetic nerve. In some patients, additional changes were recorded - displacement of the eyeball, discoloration of the skin, constriction of the pupil, as well as ptosis of the eyelids. Sometimes the weakness of the sympathetic nerve can lead to a decrease or even cessation of sweating on one side, which indicates the development of Horner's symptom.

Complicated

This kind is a consequence of this pathological condition is manifested by the development of chronic damage to the choroid of the eyes. This ailment can develop in young people, in most cases only one eye is affected. This disease is almost impossible to diagnose. As a rule, Fuchs syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Decreased vision.
• Cataract.
• Dystrophy of the iris.
• Small floating formations of white color.
• Gradual decrease in vision.

Acquired

This form can be triggered by eye injuries, mechanical damage, tumor formations, inflammatory lesions. Also, such heterochromia in humans (photo below) can develop as a result of improper use of certain medicinal formulations.

Heterochromia of the eyes - forms

As mentioned above, this phenomenon can be both hereditary and acquired. Based on this information, according to the degree of coloring, three main forms can be distinguished - complete, sector and central heterochromia in humans.

Full

In this case, the irises of both eyes are painted in completely different colors, in other words, the person is endowed with eyes of completely different colors, and the color of the iris has different shades. The most famous is complete heterochromia, in which some eyes are blue and the other brown.

Partial heterochromia

With this shape, one eye is colored with two completely different colors. This variety is also called sector heterochromia. In the area of ​​the iris of the eye, several shades can be counted simultaneously. For example, against the background of the brown iris of the eye, a spot of gray or blue color may be present. It is this spot that indicates that when the color of the eyes began to form and finally set in the child after birth, the body did not have enough melanin pigment, and as a result, the iris was simply not completely colored.

Partial heterochromia in children is explained by the fact that all babies have eyes at birth gray-blue, which in the future, as a rule, change their shade. The formation of a brown or darker eye color occurs later, moreover, this is possible only in one eye.

Central heterochromia

It is safe to say that this is the most common form of this phenomenon. In most cases, people do not even suspect that they have heterochromia, and are simply proud unusual color eye.

It is also worth noting that central heterochromia looks quite sophisticated. And if we say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul, they say a lot in people with this species. This form of heterochromia does not cause discomfort, but you should still see an ophthalmologist.

If you notice changes in the color of one or both eyes in yourself or in your child, it is advisable to consult a doctor. A careful eye examination will be required to make sure these changes are not a symptom of a serious illness or medical problem.

Certain syndromes and conditions associated with heterochromia, such as pigmentary glaucoma, can only be detected after careful examination.

A complete examination will help rule out many of the causes of heterochromia. In the absence of major upset, further checks may not be required. However, if concomitant ailments are found, the patient is prescribed therapy, depending on the diagnosis.

It can be laser surgery, steroid treatment, and if the lens becomes clouded, vitrectomy is prescribed. The choice of method is directly related to the causes of the disease.

It should also be noted that the color of the iris in both eyes with congenital heterochromia will never become the same. If this phenomenon is acquired in nature, then the restoration of the color of the iris is quite possible. Especially it rocks hitting cases