While rare, purple or violet eyes can naturally occur, due to a mutation, inflammation inside the eye, or a condition called albinism
While rare, purple or violet eyes can naturally occur, due to a mutation, inflammation inside the eye, or a condition called albinism.
What determines my eye color?
The pattern of eye color inheritance is complicated. Eye color is determined by a number of genes that interact with one another, and a child’s eye color is determined by the color of their parents' and relatives' eyes.
Sometimes, genetic mutations can cause someone to have different colored eyes than others in their family.
6 potential causes of purple eyes
- Melanin: Melanocytes secrete melanin, which is the same chemical that reacts with sunlight to produce a tan. The melanocytes in a newborn's eyes are not fully developed. Hence, the color of the iris changes as they grow. Most babies are born with brown eyes. Some Caucasian babies, however, are born with gray or blue eyes. The color of their eyes may change as they age.
- Heterochromia: Heterochromia is a condition in which the color of each eye is different. For example, one eye may be brown while the other is black. The reason for this is still unknown.
- Eye tumor: Iris tumors are usually asymptomatic, although a tumor in the eye can cause a change in eye color.
- Albinism: Albinism is a genetic disease or disorder in which the body produces no or very little melanin. Purple eye syndrome can result from this medical condition.
- Genetics: Caucasian eyes may be blue or gray. So, if a baby is born to a gray-eyed mother and a blue-eyed father, the baby is likely to have either eye color or a combination of both.
- Fuchs uveitis syndrome: Fuchs uveitis syndrome is a condition where various parts of the eyes become inflamed. Experts believe that in some cases, this condition can result in an alteration of eye color. The inflammation can turn the eyes blue or purple.
What is Alexandria’s genesis?
Alexandria syndrome, also called Alexandria's genesis, is a medical myth that can cause a person to develop purple eyes, among other symptoms. This mutation is said to affect Caucasians more frequently, but other children could be affected if they inherit it from multiple genes.
There is no scientific evidence to support the symptoms described here, but based on historical theories people with Alexandria syndrome are said to have:
- Perfect vision
- Very light skin (which surprisingly does not burn with exposure to the sun)
- Dark brown hair although they have no body hair
- Women with this condition do not menstruate, but are fertile and can bear children
- People with this condition have an extremely powerful immune system; they are rarely afflicted with any disease
- It is thought that people with such characteristics have a well-balanced metabolism, which keeps them from becoming obese
- Life expectancy may range between 120-150 years
There is no evidence, however, to support a diagnosis of Alexandria syndrome. Although a variety of disorders can cause a person's eye color to change, none have been linked to improved physical abilities.
SLIDESHOW
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Symptoms, Causes, Treatments See SlideshowReferences
Image Source: Nate Brown / Getty Images
Penn State's SC200 course. Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy. https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/10/12/scientists-say-we-cannot-be-born-with-purple-eyes-but-why-some-people-do/
Eye Color and its Inheritance. http://labs.plantbio.cornell.edu/wayne/Light and Life 2016/2315 Iris color and heredity.pdf
Purple Eyes and Other Interesting Anomalies. http://outpost-daria-reborn.info/fanfic/purple_eyes.html
