percentage of blue eyes by country

"Blue eyes are seen as powerful. The eyes of some pigeons contain yellow fluorescing pigments known as pteridines. Brown eyes in an otherwise mostly light-eyed region may point to a genetic leftover and a time in history during which everyone in the world had brown eyes. Instead, the copper accumulates in the liver and in other tissues, including the iris of the eye. The mutation, A111T, is found most commonly in Ireland and all . The color of our eyes depends on how much melanin is present in the iris. Different SNPs within OCA2 are strongly associated with blue and green eyes as well as variations in freckling, mole counts, hair and skin tone. While ocular melanomas may happen at any age, the risk goes up as you get older. Likewise, brown eyes have the most amount of melanin, while blue eyes have the least. This results in the formation of KayserFleischer rings, which are dark rings that encircle the periphery of the iris. It is important to always wear sunglasses and eyeglasses whenever possible - especially when spending time outdoors or staring at screens for long periods of time. For instance, people with brown eyes are considered by many to be more trustworthy than blue-eyed people (though the combination of brown eyes and facial shape is crucial). About half of people living in the U.S. and a higher population in Africa, and Asia are brown-eyed. It is darkest when we are at our healthiest and naturally fades . Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) The brown eyes with brown hair is one of the commonest combination in most parts of Europe. When a child was born, there is almost no melanin in the iris, so their eyes are blue. [78] People with lighter eye colors, such as blue or green, have lessened protection from the sun, and so need greater protection from the sun's rays than those with darker eye colors. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? [3]:9[6] The result is a "Tyndall blue" structural color that varies with external lighting conditions. Only about 8 % to 10% of the world's population has blue eyes. But lets not get things too scientific at this point. Hungary having green eyes is a bit of Truth in Television, as Hungary and Turkey are tied for having the highest percentage of green eyes of any country in the world: 20% each. This form of hearing loss comes from damage to the inner ear or to the nerve going from the ear to the brain. [94] According to scientists, more study is needed to verify these results. Below is a list of the top six countries with the most blue-eyed people. However, approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, the blue-eyed gene mutation spread. Moreover, brown eyes are mainly due to the high concentration of melanin in the iris stroma, which allows the absorption of both shorter and longer wavelengths of light. In Norway, an estimated 75% of the population . If you have blue eyes, it means the iris part of your eyes lacks melanin, so, technically, blue eyes don't have any color. Eye color is partially affected by light, especially blue eyes, which get their color specifically by light entering and reflecting out of the eye. [37][38][39][40][41][42][43] The combination can sometimes produce a multicolored iris, i.e., an eye that is light brown/amber near the pupil and charcoal or dark green on the outer part of the iris (or vice versa) when observed in sunlight. Finnish people pride themselves in their honesty, humility, pensiveness, and perseverance, which not surprisingly, are all attributes associated with the color blue. Sharing the rank of first in the world with Estonia, Finland also has a whopping 89 percent of its population with blue eyes. READ MORE: Eye exams: 5 reasons why they are important, Page published on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Blue eyes have almost no tint in the front layer of the iris. This article discusses where blue eyes come from and how having blue eyes may increase your risk for certain health conditions. It was created by the anthropologists Rudolf Martin and Bruno K Schultz in the first half of the 20th century. Hum Genet. Some people with severe albinism appear to have red eyes under certain lighting conditions. Your genes determine whether you have blue eyes. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. Although hazel mostly consists of brown and green, the dominant color in the eye can either be brown/gold or green. Icelandic people demonstrate a strong national pride in preserving their culture. We all know those people whose eyes look nothing like their parents, but there was some cousin or ancestor in their family that they resemble much to. The Greek goddess Athene appears with gray eyes (). The different types of uveitis are: Anterior uveitis, Intermediate uveitis, Posterior uveitis, and Pan-uveitis. For our research, on the matter of the hair color, we have found the information on Jorian and Cogweb (Cognitive Cultural Studies, from the University of California). A common cause in females with heterochromia is X-inactivation, which can result in a number of heterochromatic traits, such as calico cats. [12], Eye color is an inherited trait determined by multiple genes. [83], Eye color outside of the iris may also be symptomatic of disease. Red Hair Is Thicker. [50] Among European Americans, green eyes are most common among those of recent Celtic and Germanic ancestry with about 16%. Eye color in non-human animals is regulated differently. A whopping 70 to 80% of the worlds population have brown or darkly pigmented irises, making brown the most common eye color worldwide. All blue-eyed people have one ancestor in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. But also some genetic researches have shown that Danish Vikings were more red-haired than Swedish Vikings for example who were mainly blond. Since many people with blue eye color are more sensitive to light and may have a higher risk of retinal damage from UV rays, eye doctors often recommend that people with blue eyes be a little more cautious about their exposure to sunlight. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. [15][16], People of European descent show the greatest variety in eye color of any population worldwide. Redheads can change temperature quicker. Home Improvement / story. As in all Scandinavian countries, and being at the top of those, most common eye color is blue and most usual hair is blond. [3][6] This is an example of structural color, which depends on the lighting conditions, especially for lighter-colored eyes. Eye color may not remain constant throughout your life. Green eyes are common in Europe's Central, Western, and Northern regions. The Netherlands is one of the most interesting countries in the world, with a fascinating history and culture that sets it apart from many others. Now, as Paul Rincon of the BBC reports, genome analysis has revealed that Cheddar Man had dark brown skin and blue eyesa discovery that adds to a growing body of research indicating that the . How older drivers can improve their driving at night, trace their eye color back to that one person, population of people with lighter eyes, hair and skin, Eye exams: 5 reasons why they are important, 5 Things you might not know about blue eyes. Sitting sixth on this list, Denmark's population is 60 percent blue-eyed. There are three types of Heterochromia: complete, sectoral, and central. Trauma and certain medications, such as some prostaglandin analogues, can also cause increased pigmentation in one eye. That's good news if you have blue eyes, since your risk of cataracts is lower. [9] The earlier belief that blue eye color is a simple recessive trait has been shown to be incorrect. Nothing to do with their mythical fiery temperament! They studied the genes that coded blue eyes in all of these individuals. While limited, there is some research showing that blue eyes may protect you against seasonal affective disorder. Summary. [89] David Bowie, on the other hand, had the appearance of different eye colors due to an injury that caused one pupil to be permanently dilated. Iceland is a beautiful country in the northern region of Europe, known for its many glaciers and stunning landscapes. Blue eyes aren't even actually blue. [79] A gray iris may indicate the presence of a uveitis, and an increased risk of uveal melanoma has been found in those with blue, green or gray eyes. Blue eye color is a recessive trait, but brown-eyed parents can still produce a blue-eyed child if both parents carry the genes for blue eyes. There are many other possible reasons for having two different-colored eyes. [12] A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. [34] Many animals such as canines, domestic cats, owls, eagles, pigeons and fish have amber eyes, whereas in humans this color occurs less frequently. As many as 16 genes influence eye color by determining the amount of melanin in the cells of the iris. [45], Green eyes probably result from the interaction of multiple variants within the OCA2 and other genes. The melanin in brown eyes helps protect against intense sunlight exposure, so it would not be necessary for areas where there is not much light year-round. Researchers believe there is one ancestor responsible for blue eyes that descended from the Black Sea region of southeastern Europe anywhere between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Brown-eyed individuals, on the other hand, have a lot more variation. Blue eyes are most common in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. Nevertheless, both figures leave Estonia among the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. Because of this, the pupillary reflex is much more pronounced in albino individuals, and this can emphasize the red eye effect in photographs. Studies on Caucasian twins, both fraternal and identical, have shown that eye color over time can be subject to change, and major demelanization of the iris may also be genetically determined. In severe forms of albinism, there is no pigment on the back of the iris, and light from inside the eye can pass through the iris to the front. By Verla05. Surely it would be easier to answer the question about what percent of the world has brown hair, but lets see what the issue with the blondes is. MedlinePlus. Blue eyes percentage: 50-80. These clear lenses block 100% UV both indoors and outside, and automatically darken when they're exposed to outdoor sunlight. By contrast, less than 1 in every 100 people in southern Europe . The mutation occurred between . That doesn't necessarily mean that the parents themselves have to have blue eyes; it's possible they carry the gene, but it is recessive. There is no blue pigmentation either in the iris or in the vitreous body. That little DNA blip was blue eye color, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. It often develops as you age and is the leading cause of vision loss for people over 55. Brown irises contain more or less melanin. ", "Genetic mutation makes those brown eyes blue", "Blue eyes result of ancient genetic 'mutation', "Distribution of Bodily Characters. [26] Hazel eyes are more common in Spaniards, North Africa, the Middle East, and Brazil. Blue eyes: Close to 8%-10% of people have blue eyes, with the US having a percentage of around 27%. 2011;27(6):609-613. doi:10.1002/dmrr.1214. The higher the amount of melanin in the iris and the denser the texture of the melanin, the darker the color of a person's eyes; the same melanin concentration also depends on many factors such as hereditary and environmental ones. How does a parent with a different eye color have a blue-eyed child? [77], As a result of heterochromia iridum, it is also possible to have two different eye colors. That's called phototoxicity. An iris that appears golden contains some melanin even at this early age and is likely to turn from blue to green or brown as the infant ages. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. By contrast, people living in hot zones like sub-Saharan Africa have notably higher melanin production, which makes the eyes, skin and hair much darker. Gray eyes: A rare and beautiful eye color. That's right this small European country is also the birthplace of many people with striking blue eyes and fair complexions. Favorite. A poll conducted for the American Academy of Ophthalmology resulted in the following percentages: That the majority of Americans have light eyes is likely a reflection of the countrys earliest immigration patterns, with many new inhabitants coming from European countries where blue eyes dominate. Having blue eyes has its advantages. More people living in Asian, South American, Spanish, and South Africa are more likely to be amber-eyed. When ones liver is inflamed or damaged, it usually cannot remove the bilirubin. Amber eyes may also contain amounts of very light gold-ish gray. At the end, what we got was a blonde map of Europe. See More by this Creator. Because blue eyes contain less melanin than most other eye colors, they may be more at risk of certain damage. In Finland, apart from native Finns, there are Sami people (living in the north of the country in Lapland), which have a greater percentage of dark hair and eye color. Priscilla Vu, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. The amount of melanin, or pigment, a person has in their iris determines their eye color. While researchers can't yet prove eye color indicates a hearing problem, they did find that those with lighter-colored eyes had more significant hearing loss after being exposed to loud noises. The AAO states that those with central heterochromia have iris with two differently colored rings, while those with complete heterochromia have one iris with a different color. It may take up to six months for the gene responsible for creating the pigment in the eyes to activate melanin production. Gray eyes are common in parts of Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and among the Algerian Shawia people in Northwest Africa. On top of that, blue eyes are not truly blue. [33] In humans, yellowish specks or patches are thought to be due to the pigment lipofuscin, also known as lipochrome. Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) International Journal of Ophthalmology. Quite a bit. Brown is the most common eye colour. [62][63][64], Approximately 8% to 10% of the global population have blue eyes. 4. Eyes only appear to be these colors because of the way light strikes the layers of the iris and reflects back toward the viewer. Now, lets see what else we have on our list oftop countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation. As of 2010[update], as many as 16 genes have been associated with eye color inheritance. Theres still a lot of speculation about why Europeans generally have lighter eyes (and lighter skin and hair). Are most common among those of recent Celtic and Germanic ancestry with about 16.! 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Seasonal affective disorder there is no blue pigmentation either in the U.S. and a higher population in Africa the! Layers of the commonest combination in most parts of Europe may not remain constant throughout your..

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