Hazel eyes: colour, rarity and what makes them unique
Updated February 2026
Often described as a striking mix of green, brown and gold, hazel eyes are known for their ability to appear different depending on lighting and surroundings.
In this guide, we’ll explore:
Green eyes hold a special spot on the human eye colour spectrum. This attention-grabbing hue can range from a light, smoky sage to a deep emerald green. Some green-eyed people even have specks of blue, brown, or gold on their irises.
But appearance isn't the only thing that's captivating about green eyes. Here's a closer look at this unique colour.
There are a few kinds of brown eyes — light, dark, and everything in between — and each shade has a striking appearance. Though the eye colour is common in people around the globe, brown eyes are unique to each individual who has them. Read on to learn what makes brown eyes special, what causes a person to have them, and what benefits they can provide.
People with amber eyes have irises that combine brown with a yellow or golden hue. The iris is the tinted ring around the pupil that gives each eye its colour. Amber eyes sometimes resemble light brown eyes, but they're set apart by a warmer, honey-tinted tone.
Amber eyes are quite rare. It’s estimated that only 5% of people globally (1 in 20) have an amber eye colour.
Contact lenses offer a level of convenience that makes them a popular choice for many people who need vision correction. They allow for greater freedom of movement, making them ideal for active lifestyles. Plus, advancements in technology have made contact lenses more comfortable and easier to use.
When it comes to contact lenses, wearing the right lens shape for the curvature of your eye is essential for achieving your clearest vision. Standard contact lenses have a spherical shape, meaning the curvature is consistent throughout the lens. But if you have an uneven cornea or irregular eye shape, aspheric contacts may be a better choice for your vision correction.
Scleral lenses are a type of contact lens used to treat a variety of eye and vision conditions. These lenses are larger than regular contacts, allowing them to rest on the sclera (the white part of the eye) and conjunctiva (the clear tissue lining the front of the eye and inner eyelids). They arch over the cornea (the clear front layer of the eye), creating a smooth, even surface that enhances vision correction.
Contact lenses offer a convenient way to correct your vision in a frame-free alternative to wearing glasses. However, like many other medical devices, they don’t last forever. Contacts typically expire about four years after their packaging date, though this can vary by manufacturer.
When it comes to improving your vision with contact lenses, there are many options available. Hybrid contact lenses offer a versatile solution that can be a great choice for people with various vision issues or trouble wearing traditional contacts.
A contact lens fitting exam is required to wear contacts safely and achieve the best comfort and vision possible. Contact lenses have many advantages over glasses. If you want contact lenses, schedule a fitting along with your regular eye exam.
Scheduling a contact lens fitting will allow your eye care provider to do the extra tests and spend the time required to fit you into the best lenses possible.