{"id":12655,"date":"2023-09-13T03:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T07:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyebuydirect.com\/blog\/?p=12655"},"modified":"2024-09-26T09:18:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T13:18:46","slug":"heterochromia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eyebuydirect.com\/blog\/heterochromia\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Heterochromia?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know that having two different-colored eyes is a condition called heterochromia? This is also the term used when one or both of your eyes has more than one color in the iris (the colored part of the eye).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The color of the iris is determined by the amount of a pigment, called melanin, that you have in your body. This pigment helps determine the color of your eyes, hair, and skin. For example, the less melanin you have, the lighter your eyes will be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Heterochromia most often results from a harmless genetic mutation that happens before birth. This mutation affects the genes that produce melanin, and causes there to be different amounts of melanin in each iris. With different levels of melanin, each eye will be a different color.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both humans and animals can have heterochromia. It\u2019s much more common among animals, especially domesticated animals such as cats and dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Heterochromia Iridum vs. Heterochromia Iridis<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are different types of heterochromia that can affect a person\u2019s eye, skin, and hair color. The terms \u201ciridium\u201d and \u201ciridis\u201d are both used to refer to heterochromia of the eyes, but each has a specific meaning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People with heterochromia iridum have two different-colored eyes. For example, they may have one brown eye and one blue eye. In people with heterochromia iridis, the iris in one or both eyes is made up of more than one color.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Causes of Heterochromia<\/span><\/h2>\n

Heterochromia can be present at birth (congenital) and it can also develop it later in life (acquired).<\/span><\/p>\n

Congenital heterochromia<\/b> is the type you are born with. Most cases are referred to as benign heterochromia because the condition is harmless and unrelated to any other cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

When benign heterochromia is ruled out, the most common cause of congenital heterochromia is Horner syndrome. This is a rare condition affecting the eye and tissue around the eye on one side of a person\u2019s face. Heterochromia usually only happens in children who develop Horner syndrome before age 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other causes of congenital heterochromia include:<\/span><\/p>\n