Green Eyes
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.
How rare are green eyes?
Green is the rarest eye colour that isn't caused by a medical condition, like albinism. Researchers think only around 2% of people worldwide have naturally green-coloured eyes.
Some research shows that "in-between" eye colours, like green, are more common in the United Kingdom than elsewhere in Europe. But they're even more common in countries like France and Germany.D
Where do green eyes come from?
Green eye colour primarily comes from two factors: melanin and genetics.
Melanin is a dark pigment in the body responsible for the colour of your eyes, skin, and hair. The melanin that gives you your eye colour is located in the front and back layers of the iris, the coloured ring around each pupil.
Brown eyes contain the most melanin, while blue and grey eyes have the least.
Green-coloured eyes don't have green pigment; they simply have less melanin in the front part of each iris. Light reflects off the melanin and appears green from the outside.
Genetics behind green eyes
Genetics are the main reason why green-coloured eyes are so uncommon.
A child may inherit green eye colour from a unique combination of their parents' genes. Green eyes are typically recessive to brown eyes but can be dominant over blue eyes. In other words, green often overpowers blue eyes but tends to be overpowered by brown eyes.
This usually means:
- There's a good chance that two parents with green eyes will have a baby with green eyes.
- If one parent has green eyes and the other has brown, the baby is more likely to have brown eyes.
However, the genetic process can take many twists and turns before it "decides" a trait like eye colour, so there's no guaranteed way to know beforehand.
It's technically possible for two brown-eyed parents to have a baby with green eyes — or two green-eyed parents to have a baby with brown eyes.
Other facts about green eyes
Here are some other things you may not know about this rare eye colour:
Other eye colours can be partially green
Some people who don't have fully green eyes still have green streaks in their irises. Hazel eyes, which often contain bits of green, blue, or gold, are one example.
This can also happen with heterochromia, a condition in which someone has more than one eye colour. People with complete heterochromia may have one green eye and one eye that's a totally different colour. It can also cause a wedge or ring of a different colour, such as green, that radiates from the centre of the iris. This is known as sectoral heterochromia.
People with green eyes are often more sensitive to light
Melanin gives each iris its colour, but it also helps protect the eye from the sun's ultraviolet rays. This leaves people with green eyes a little more exposed since their irises contain less melanin.
As a result, this can make some people with green-coloured eyes more sensitive to light.
Green eye colour can seem like it comes and goes
Like other shades, green eyes can seem to change colour from time to time. You might feel like your green eyes take on a slightly different hue or that your blue eyes look more green at certain times.
This is usually more of an optical illusion than a physical change in your iris colour. It can happen when:
- Different types of light reflect off your irises in various ways.
- Other colours around you (such as your clothing, room colour, etc.) slightly change the appearance of green.
- Your pupils get bigger or smaller.
In some cases, the iris itself will actually change colour. This can be harmless but may also point to a medical eye problem that should be treated. Speak with an eye doctor promptly if you notice any changes in your eyes or vision.
Celebrities with green eyes
While some actors and actresses wear green contact lenses for a role, plenty of famous people have naturally green eyes. Some of them are:
- Adele
- Harry Styles
- Kate Middleton (Catherine, Princess of Wales)
- Ben Whishaw
- Emilia Clarke
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Eddie Redmayne
- Emma Stone
- Clive Owen
- Scarlett Johansson
- Channing Tatum
- Bryce Dallas Howard
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- Jennifer Connelly
Many people use coloured contact lenses to make their eyes look green — and correct their vision at the same time. All you need is a contact lens prescription and permission from an optician.
Book an eye test to get your measurements and find out whether coloured contacts are right for you.
Sources
- Eye colors. Cleveland Clinic. March 2024.
- True colors: A literature review on the spatial distribution of eye and hair pigmentation. Forensic Science International: Genetics. March 2019.
- What causes green eyes: Rareness, beauty, and more. Vision Center. October 2024.
- Is eye color determined by genetics? MedlinePlus [Internet]. National Library of Medicine. July 2022.
- Eye color genetics. Verywell Health. May 2023.
- Heterochromia is having different-colored eyes. All About Vision. May 2022.
- Biochemistry, melanin. StatPearls [Internet]. May 2023.
- Myth or fact: Blue eyes are more sensitive to light. Duke Health. Duke University Health System. July 2021.
- Why are my eyes changing color? EyeSmart. American Academy of Ophthalmology. May 2023.