Blog Hero

Eye Color & Genetics

Book Appointment

Ever wonder why your eyes are blue, green, brown, or somewhere in between? The colored part of your eye, the Iris, contains pigmentation which determines our eye color. Your parents pass on chromosomes which combine to customize your eye color.

How eye color develops

Eye color is not as simple as other genetic traits. Three different genes contribute to your eye color. Due to dominant gene types, darker colors like brown overpower lighter colors like blue and green. Colors such as gray, hazel, and multiple combinations are not as common and are not yet completely understood.

Most babies are born with blue eyes, but did you know their eyes can darken for three years? Melanin is a pigment not present at birth, which develops with age and causes eyes to darken. The more melanin someone has, the darker their eyes will be.

Facts About Common Eye Colors:

  • Brown: Most common eye color worldwide. This varies between dark brown, light brown, and honey brown eyes.
  • Blue: People with blue eyes have less melanin in their eyes than any other color. Blue eyes are thought to come from a genetic mutation of one individual.
  • Green: Thought to be the most attractive and one of the rarest eye colors.
  • Hazel: The hue of hazel eyes changes based on what you are wearing and the type of lighting you are in. Hazel eyes host a variety of colors.

Changes in eye color

When your pupil changes size, the pigments in the iris of your eye compress or spread apart causing the color of your eyes to change. Your pupils change size for a variety of reasons including changes in light and the distance of the object you are focusing on. Emotions can also change the pupil size and iris color.

Heterochromia

Heterochromia is a condition in which a person’s eyes are different colors, caused by one eye having more melanin than the other. Typically, present at birth and is not considered an eye disease as it does not commonly cause vision problems.

Enhancing your eye color

  • Wear eyeglass frames to compliment your eye color and skin tone.

Example: Determine if you are “warm” or “cool” toned skin and eye color then match your frames with a complementary color.

  • Use eye makeup to bring out the color of your eyes.

Example: Pinks, purples, and silvers bring out the warmth in brown eyes.

  • Wear clothing which compliments or contrasts your eye color.

Example: Orange, red, and gold highlight the natural hue of blue eyes.

  • Choose hairstyles and colors to accentuate your eyes.

Example: Bangs and layers which frame the face draw more attention to your eyes.

  • Colored contact lenses give you the opportunity to try out a new look.

Written by
Moses Eyecare Center

More Articles By
Moses Eyecare Center

Explore Our Locations

Merrillville

  • 70 E. 68th Place
  • Merrillville, IN 46410
  • * Monday : 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ** Tuesday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Wednesday : 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ** Thursday: 11:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 3rd Saturday of the month

Book Appointment

  • 701 W 5th Ave
  • Gary, IN 46402
  • Monday: Closed
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Wednesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: CLOSED
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Book Appointment

  • 630 N. Front St.
  • Hebron, IN 46341
  • * Monday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • ** Thursday: 11:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 3rd Saturday of the month

Book Appointment

  • 117 Deanna Dr.
  • Lowell, IN 46356
  • * Monday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday (Lunch 1-2): 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
  • ** Wednesday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 4th Saturday of the month

Book Appointment

  • 1861 E. Summit St.
  • Crown Point, IN 46307
  • ** Monday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Wednesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ** Thursday: 11:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 2nd Saturday of the month

Book Appointment

  • 130 S. Broad Street
  • Griffith, IN 46319
  • * Monday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ** Tuesday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • ** Wednesday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 2nd Saturday of each month

Book Appointment

Glen Park

  • 3229 Broadway
  • Gary, IN 46409
  • * Monday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • * Wednesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: Closed

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Book Appointment

  • 115 Lincolnway
  • Valparaiso, IN 46383
  • ** Monday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday : 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 1st Saturday of the month 

Book Appointment

  • 7974 Wicker Ave.
  • St. John, IN 46373
  • Monday: Closed
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ** Wednesday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 1st Saturday of the month

Book Appointment

  • 7414 Indianapolis Blvd.
  • Hammond , IN 46324
  • * Monday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • * Wednesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ** Thursday: 11:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 4th Saturday of each month

Book Appointment

  • 10707 Randolph St.
  • Crown Point, IN 46307
  • ** Monday: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Tuesday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: CLOSED
  • ** Thursday: 11:00 AM 7:00 PM
  • * Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • ***Saturday: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM

* Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
** Lunch 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*** Open the 1st Saturday of the month

Book Appointment

A Style for Everyone

Fashionable and affordable eyewear is available at all Moses Eyecare locations. Our optical Center display thousands of frames ranging from today’s designer styles to an economical “sight-saver” collection.

Highly trained and helpful opticians are here to help you select comfortable frames and the newest lens designs to keep you seeing and looking your absolute best.

Our Blog

Stay up to date with everything happening at Moses Eyecare Center!

instagram facebook facebook2 pinterest twitter google-plus google linkedin2 yelp youtube phone location calendar share2 link star-full star star-half chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down chevron-up envelope fax