Blue eyes see better in the dark + ' - NZ Optics for all eye health professionals' (2024)

Blue eyes see better in the dark + ' - NZ Optics for all eye health professionals' (1)

Credit: Tofayel Tonmoy

Blue eyes see better in the dark

March 16, 2024 Staff reporters

A UK study, published in New Scientist, found blue-eyed individuals were better able to read in dimmer lighting conditions compared with brown-eyed subjects.

Liverpool John Moores University researchers Dr Kyoko Yamaguchi and Faith Cain assessed 40 participants who sat in darkness for 30 seconds before the lighting was increased until they were able to read letters on a wall 3m away. On average, blue-eyed subjects needed 0.7 lux of ambient lighting, compared with 0.82 lux for those with brown eyes. “It’s likely depigmented irises provide an adaptive advantage,” said Dr Yamaguchi.

Blue eyes see better in the dark + ' - NZ Optics for all eye health professionals' (2024)

FAQs

Do people with blue eyes have better vision in the dark? ›

People with blue eyes may have better sight in dim conditions than those with brown eyes, according to LJMU research reported in New Scientist. The theory could explain why the colour has persisted in certain populations, for example in Northern Europe where skies are darker.

Is there any advantage to having blue eyes? ›

Benefits of Having Blue Eyes

Because less melanin allows for more light to pass through the eye, those with blue eyes can often tolerate longer periods of lower light. Blue eyes appear to have a lower risk of developing cataracts than brown eyes.

Which eye color has the best vision? ›

While lighter-colored eyes may be more sensitive to sunlight, they are not necessarily more sensitive to vision. In fact, blue eyes have better visual acuity than brown eyes. This means that blue-eyed people can see small details more clearly.

Do people with blue eyes need glasses more? ›

True or False: Eye Color Affects Your Vision. Eye color doesn't significantly affect the sharpness of your vision, but it can affect visual comfort in certain situations. It all comes down to the density of the pigment melanin within your iris, which determines what colors of light are absorbed or reflected.

Why are blue eyes so attractive? ›

Blue eyes are not only associated with being sexy and affectionate. They are also the most likely to enjoy trying new things and making new friends, engage in healthy recreation, and seek adventure. You could say blue eyes are the extroverts of eye color.

What eye color is the rarest? ›

Of those four, green is the rarest. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Hazel/amber is the next rarest color after green. Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list, found in 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide.

What are the disadvantages of having blue eyes? ›

Blue Eyes are More Sensitive to Light

Since blue eyes contain less melanin than green, hazel or brown eyes, photophobia is more prevalent in blue eyes compared to darker coloured eyes. For these reasons, having less melanin in your irises means that you need to protect your eyes more from the sun's UV rays.

What is the most attractive eye color? ›

One thing these survey results have in common is that light-colored eyes — green, gray, blue, and hazel — are named as the most attractive eye colors in the world. In one large survey of more than 66,000 people, green was chosen as the most attractive eye color. Green is also among the rarest eye colors.

What is the personality of a person with blue eyes? ›

If you have blue eyes, your personality traits reveal that you embody poise and remarkable inner strength. You often find yourself misunderstood, perceived either as overly egoistic or excessively timid, when in fact, you're neither. Your main challenge lies in expressing yourself.

What is the healthiest eye color? ›

Brown Eyes Are Associated With Few if Any Health Risks

“In general, everyone should make sure to wear 100 percent UV-blocking sunglasses when outdoors to minimize their chances of developing cataracts and other eye diseases,” Abugo advises.

What eye color goes blind the most? ›

Your eye color is 100% linked to specific genes. And so are many of the most common eye conditions and eye diseases leading to vision loss. However, for the most part, your eye color doesn't put you at risk for vision conditions (an exception being albinism).

What is the most trusted eye color? ›

Gazing into people's eyes can offer insight into whether they can be trusted, and according to new research, this perception may have something to do with eye color. A study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that brown-eyed people are believed to be more trustworthy than blue-eyed people.

Can people with blue eyes see better in the dark? ›

Myth or Fact: Do Blue Eyes See Better in the Dark? Contrary to popular belief, individuals with blue eyes don't see better in the dark than those with darker eye colours.

Is there a benefit to blue eyes? ›

Having blue eyes has its advantages. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. However, they might increase your risk of certain health problems like eye cancer. Protecting your eyes and getting regular checkups is important no matter the color of your irises.

Do blue eyes get cataracts more often? ›

There are several possible risk factors for developing cataracts, but eye color is perhaps one of the most surprising. Evidence suggests that adults with darker rather than lighter irises are at greater risk for developing certain types of cataracts in late middle age.

Which eye color is most attractive? ›

We found that green is the most popular lens colour, with brown coming in a close second, despite it being one of the most common eye colours. Although blue and hazel are seen as the most attractive eye colours for men and women they are surprisingly the least popular.

Do people with blue eyes have a higher pain tolerance? ›

Eye color is linked to pain tolerance

Scientists found that white women who have light-colored eyes (such as green or blue) can tolerate pain and distress. While scientists still don't know why this is, researchers say there could be a genetic link.

Is the sun brighter for people with blue eyes? ›

People with lighter eye colours such as blue, green, or gray tend to have less melanin compared to those with darker eye colours like brown or black. So it's that most people with lighter-coloured eyes—like blue—are often much more sensitive to light than people with darker eyes.

Are blue eyes dominant or recessive? ›

The bey2 gene has one allele for brown eyes and one for blue eyes. The allele for brown eyes is the most dominant allele and is always dominant over the other two alleles and the allele for green eyes is always dominant over the allele for blue eyes, which is always recessive.

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