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Subscribe to RSSWondering what it is about Kate Bosworth's looks that are so riveting? It just might be her distinctive irises. Born with heterochromia, Bosworth has one blue eye and one eye with sectors of both hazel and blue.
It's a rare defect that many people find irresistible.
"It's definitely been my ace in the hole," says Ingrid Ingerson, a 36-year-old Seattle program assistant who also has sectoral heterochromia. She has hazel eyes with a splash of brown in her right eye. "It's always been a hit with the boys. Not that I care about that now that I'm married, but it's still part of my cachet and part of my mystique."
According to Dr. Ivan Schwab, an ophthalmology professor at UC Davis, heterochromia occurs more frequently in cats and dogs and is uncommon in humans, affecting only about 1 in 10,000 people. It's often genetic — usually due to an excess or lack of melanin in the iris — but it can also be caused by injury, inflammation, tumor or medications, such as eye drops for glaucoma or eyelash enhancement.
In some people, heterochromia produces two completely different-colored irises. Actress Jane Seymour has one green eye and one hazel eye. Others have a colored sector (like Bosworth) or will have central heterochromia, which is basically a ring of extra color between the pupil and the iris.
"Central is pretty common," says Schwab. "If you look really close in a person with blue eyes, at the margin [of the pupil] you'll see lots of yellow dots that will blend in when you step away. It's sort of the difference between a light blue and a steely blue."
Inherited heterochromia is harmless, although acquired may be a different story, says Schwab. The worst part of it is dealing with people who've never encountered it before.
Slideshow: Celebrities with unusual eyes
"Some people can't let it go," says Ingerson. "They'll say, 'What's wrong with your eye?' 'Can you see out of it?' They … want to know if it hurts. They always go to the place where it's a problem or a malady."
Other common questions – gleaned from a "People With Sectoral Heterochromia" Facebook page – include: "Is that a glass eye?"; "I think your eye is bleeding"; and "Wow, you look just like a Husky."
While constant questions can be off-putting, most people seem to like it.
"It's exotic," says Schwab, the ophthalmologist. "It's striking and it makes them different."
It might even give them a certain star power. In addition to Bosworth and Seymour, luminaries sporting some form of heterochromia include actors Kiefer Sutherland, Christopher Walken, Dan Aykroyd, and Elizabeth Berkeley; singer/songwriter Carly Simon; baseball pitcher Max Scherzer; and by some reports, Alexander the Great.
David Bowie, perhaps the most famous "heterochromiac" in existence, actually has an enlarged pupil in one eye, courtesy of a fistfight in his youth, which gives the appearance of two different-colored irises.
Are you a heterochromiac? Tell us about your multicolored eyes in the comments.
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My Mother had one green eye and one blue eye and was always embarrassed when anyone noticed or commented on it. My Father, Brother, and I have blue eyes; my sister's eyes are green.
I have a good friend who has slate blue eyes with an amber ring around the middle. It seems to expand to where his eyes look like starbursts, then some days you will hardly notice it. My eyes are two shades of green, a lightened green with a dard ring around the middle, and the shades intermix. My eyes actually change colors depending on where I am and my mood. The color varies from a gray-green to a bright emerald. It's where I got my nickname and username!
I was born with one blue and one green eye, it was very noticeable right through to my late 30's but not as apparent now at 48 although if I am tired then it is quite prominent, also the direct light will show the different colours but I have to admit that it has been a focal point of conversation with many aquaintances in my life and thoroughly enjoyable but the question still remains 'where did I get them from'? my dad has brown eyes and my mother has hazel eyes with no one else in the family having either of mine not even grandparents.....hmmmmmmm!!!
I inherited heterochromia from my maternal Great Grandmother. I have always been proud of the gift I received from her (I am the only one who has it in my family) My eyes changed when I was 7 or 8 from both being blue to one being blue and the other is green with about a quarter of that eye being brown. Most people do comment on it and my husband calls me his human Australian Shepard (thats alright its my favorite dog)!
I have a green eye and a blue eye - one from my mom and one from my dad! I have always told my parents I was a twin that never split. My right eye is blue (dad's side) - My dad was really short and the right side of my body is smaller than my left. Not only that, I also have a birthmark in the exact same place that my dad did. My left side is green (mom's side) - The left side of my body is larger than my right, but my teeth on my left side have my mom's characteristics and the ones on the right have my dad's characteristics. It is like I am a perfect hybrid of my parents. I think it is really cool. I admire both of them.
I have one blue eye and one eye half blue and half brown. I have heard all the comments, you look like a husky etc, but all in all most people think it is cool. My eyes seem to change colors depending on what color clothes I wear. Some people will notice right away and I have known others that didn't realize it for years!
I have green eyes with brown on the top of my right eye. But the weirdest thing about my eyes is the dark blueish ring around my eyes. It's like someone took a marker and outlined both of my eyes. It's very odd. But, I've always had people compliment my eyes, so I guess the article is correct on that aspect!
I have that blue ring around my eyes as well.
I have the blue ring too. Everyone always comments/ compliments me on my eyes. I swear, almost once every day, someone says something. Anyone know the term for this ring?
I have a blue ring as well around the outside...middle is greenish with amber around my pupil and
little a brown spot in my right eye. People often ask me what color my eyes are because they can't really tell...My repy is ... every color! My dad has dark brown eyes and my mom has blue/grey eyes.
the technical term forthe "every color" eyes u describe,is hazel.look it up onlinr for more info.my hazel eyes are light amber in the center,then green,then grey.with a dark bluish ring around the grey.
My husband has hazel eyes with sections of light brown at the top. They change color with his mood or under different lighting conditions, like opals.
When I was young I had blue/gray eyes. As I've aged my eyes are now dark blue with gold rings around the iris. The gold rings seem to get thicker with age. Too bad my school colors are Purple & Gold, not blue & gold.
The author states that "inherited heterochromia is harmless." While usually true, a condition called Waardenburg syndrome that causes deafness often exhibits heterochromia (as well as a white hair streak).
I have always had one completely blue eye and the other is half blue and half hazel. I love when people first notice it and they stare at me for a bit. Its funny when they ask "Did you know that you have a different colored eye?" Nope, never look in the mirror. In the words of Bill Engvall, "Here's your sign."
I have been told I have very striking blue eyes, but what people don't realize until they get very close to me is that both my eyes actually have small "gold" specks throughout the blue. No one else in my family has this. I was told that back in history eyes like mine were considered to be a sign that the person was a "witch"! If so I guess I'm a GOOD witch. :)
All of my kids and I have forms of heterochromia so we figured it's genetic and until this article I didn't know it's considered rare. The strangest part for us is that our eyes actually shift in color, sometimes in intensity and sometimes the color itself. One day I'll have brown eyes, the next light gold. We haven't figured out a pattern to it so no idea why our eyes do this.
I have sectional heterochromia that I presume was inherited from a relative because I was born with the eye color difference. My right eye is completely blue while my left eye is 2/3 blue and 1/3 brown. I do not know of any relative in my family that has had heterochromia and interestingly, my parents as well as all of my 4 grandparents have blue eyes. Not a drop of brown!
I can tell you that it is definitely a distinguishing feature that has gotten me many questions as well as many looks and compliments!
My 1 year old son has what I call Khaki Blue eyes (greenish-grayish blue eyes, but always changing color...weird.) But his left eye is 1/4 completely dark brown. It's not very noticeable from a distance, but if you are looking closely into his eyes, it's very cool looking. No one in our family has it other than him that I know of. Now I know what to call it!
I am the only one in my family that has heterochromia. The outer ring of my eyes are blue , inside soft blue/green with brown specks throughout. They can change to really blue or green depending on what i wear or my mood. I have recieved compliments all my life as my eyes seem to rivit people when they look at them. I use to hate people staring at me but doesnt bother me any longer. Its really nice to hear others have heterochromia too.!
My left eye is blue, and my right eye is two-thirds blue and one-third brown. I never knew there was a name for it! All my life, new acquaintances have stopped mid-conversation to say, "Do you know your eyes are two different colors?" It's actually a great ice breaker!
Always had the 1 blue 1 green thing. I love it! Afforded me best eyes in my high school yearbook considering other than that they are not terribly terrific. Comes out more noticable in the sunlight, but people never look at your face when they talk to you anyway. Get a lot of "my dog has that" comments but i could care less. Wouldnt change a thing
I have one blue eye and one brown eye with a small arc of blue at the top.
1. After a thorough 1 hour eye examine years ago for my pilot's license, the doctor took one last look and realized the different colors and asked me if I could see ok.
2. Recently I told a Hooter's waitress after she noticed them that it wasn't too bad except that everything on the right side of the room was brown and everything on the left side was blue....she believed me.
3. I was walking with an aquaintence some time ago and we passed a dog with two different colored eyes. My walking partner told me not to pay any attention to the dog because of his eyes and concluded that the dog was retarded.
i have full heterochromia. one eye is blue & the other is green. i am constantly asked if i am color blind (i'm not). i love people's reactions, but some people go over the top & always want to stare at my eyes.. it gets awkward, because then i have to stare back at them lol.
LOL @ Glenn-2013939
I've got one blue, one green eye. Strange thing is there is no occurrence of it in my family - I'm the first to have it. Have had two different colored eyes since birth.
I love Glenn's blue & brown eye.. & I love the reaction of the younger crowd, because many of them will notice & say OMGosh you have 2 different color eyes.. It is awesome & I don't which I like better, his blue or brown eye... They're both awesome & so is Glenn..:)
A friend noticed I had two different colored eyes. I was 34 at the time. This was news to me as I guess it happened gradually. It turns out I had Fuchs Heterochromic Syndrome, and susbsequent cataract formation. I get a lot of comments. I wasn't born with the two eye colors, so I do suggest an ophamologist appt. if you have color CHANGE.
Well I am noticing a trend of blue/green here. I wonder if I have the same condition? I have an almost black eye (you cannot see my pupil for how dark it is) and the other eye is a very light golden brown. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me "Do you know you have two different colored eyes?" I would be a millionaire 10 times over! I have always taken pride in my uniqueness!
And BTW...I see just fine!
I have one blue eye and the other is half blue and half brown. It's interesting when people first meet me because they automatically think I have a torn contact or something. I think it makes me very unique and I would never change it.
I have central heterochromia. My eyes are a vivid green with a bright yellow "sunflower" around the pupil. Very striking and my favorite feature.
Its interesting to hear from others who have had the same experiences. I have one green eye (same as my dad) and one brown/hazel eye (same as my mom). I say its green - alot of other people say its blue. My son has blue eyes (like his dad). My dog has 2 different colored eyes too. She's part catahoula hound - its part of the breed. She's the second dog that i have had with 2 different yes.
Hated it when i was a kid as i was teased about it. Don't mind so much now - i can usually tell when people notice - you get "that look".
Walking thru a local fair - guy comes up and points at the dog - hahaha look at the dog with 2 different colored eyes. and then he looks up at me! Now what does he say... Priceless.
Sandy!!! The "LOOK!"
I know EXACTLY what you mean. All of a sudden they're just.... like, wow.... For me it's usually accompanied by the irritating question, "What color are your eyes?" Because I have sectoral heterochromia (brown with a big sliver of blue/hazel/grey on the outside of my right and a big chunk of the same in the lower "corner" of my left) and they change with lighting/clothes, I usually just say, "You tell me!"
:) Glad I'm not the only one! Thanks for sharing!