Many people believe that blue eyes tend to get lighter as a person ages. There are a few reasons why this perception exists. In this article, we’ll explore the science behind eye color and aging to determine if there is any truth to the idea that blue eyes lighten over time.
The Biology Behind Blue Eyes
Eye color is determined by the amount and quality of melanin pigment in the iris. Brown eyes contain a lot of melanin, while blue eyes contain much less of this pigment. The amount of melanin present is determined by genetics.
Blue eyes only contain small amounts of melanin in the stroma, which is the thin, filmy area of the iris. They have no melanin at all in the epithelium, which is the anterior layer of the iris that contains pigment cells. However, blue eyes do contain larger amounts of collagen in the stroma, which scatters light and gives blue irises their distinctive hue.
Melanin Changes As We Age
Over time, the melanin in our eyes begins to decrease naturally. Experts aren’t entirely sure why this happens, but some speculate:
- Melanin-producing cells become less effective at making pigment as we age
- The number of pigment-producing cells decreases
This natural loss of melanin is more noticeable in people with brown eyes. Their eyes have so much melanin in the first place that a small reduction leads to a perceptible lightening. The decrease is much less noticeable for people with blue eyes, since they started out with minimal melanin in the iris.
Other Factors That Can Change Eye Color
While melanin reduction explains why brown eyes may lighten with age, there are some other factors that may alter blue eye color over time:
Decreased Collagen
Collagen provides the structural support for the stroma and affects how light scatters through it. Over time, exposure to UV rays can degrade collagen fibers. With less collagen, the stroma becomes less organized. This results in light scattering less efficiently through the iris. So while the amount of melanin doesn’t change, older blue eyes may appear a bit darker or grayer as collagen decreases.
Cloudiness
As we age, the crystalline lens in our eyes gradually becomes cloudy. This is called nuclear sclerosis, and it causes cataracts in many older adults. A cloudy lens blocks some light from entering the eye and reflecting back through the iris. This can also make blue eyes seem less vibrant or light as we get older.
Pigment Dispersion Syndrome
Some people with blue eyes may experience a condition called pigment dispersion syndrome. This is caused by pigment cells rubbing off the back of the iris and dispersing throughout the eye. Over time, the iris can accumulate pigment and become darker.
The Verdict: Do Blue Eyes Get Lighter With Age?
Based on the factors discussed, the answer seems to be no, blue eyes do not progressively get lighter with age. While some blue-eyed older people may perceive their eye color as less bright, this is likely due to other age-related changes in the eye rather than less melanin.
Here is a summary of how aging affects blue eye color:
| Factor | Effect on Blue Eyes |
|---|---|
| Decreased melanin | Minimal change; blue eyes have little melanin to begin with |
| Decreased collagen | Can make blue eyes appear slightly darker or grayer |
| Cloudy lens (cataracts) | Can make blue eyes seem less vibrant |
| Pigment dispersion syndrome | Can cause blue eyes to gradually darken over time |
While brown eyes are very likely to get lighter naturally, blue eyes generally maintain their same hue throughout life. Some people may perceive their blue eyes as changing color based on clothing, lighting conditions, or age-related optical changes in the eye. But the amount of melanin itself remains constant.
Why Do Some Infants’ Blue Eyes Change Color?
If melanin doesn’t decrease in blue eyes, why do many Caucasian babies born with blue eyes end up with darker eyes later in life? The answer has to do with developmental changes rather than aging changes.
All babies are born with lightly pigmented irises. It takes time for melanocytes to fully produce and deposit melanin in the stroma and epithelium. For Caucasian babies with the genetic coding for brown eyes, this means their eyes will remain blue for several months until melanin production ramps up. Once ample melanin is made, their irises will change to their true eye color.
For genetic reasons, this darkening does not occur in babies destined to maintain blue eyes. The small amount of melanin made stays limited to the stroma, leaving the epithelium devoid of pigment.
Can You Permanently Change Your Eye Color?
While aging doesn’t significantly alter the melanin content in blue eyes, there are some ways adults can permanently change their eye color if desired:
Laser Eye Surgery
A relatively new procedure called laser iridotomy can lighten very dark brown eyes. During the surgery, a laser is used to create tiny holes in the pigment layer of the iris. This reduces overall melanin content, lightening the eye a few shades. However, there is currently no equivalent procedure to darken very light blue eyes.
Iris Implants
Surgically implanting colored contacts under the epithelium is an option for permanently changing iris color. However, there are risks of infection and glaucoma with this invasive procedure. The long-term safety remains unclear.
The Takeaway
While the common belief exists that blue eyes lighten with age, scientifically this does not seem to hold true. Blue eyes remain blue throughout life due to their low concentration of melanin pigment in the first place. Some small optical changes may make blue eyes seem less brilliant in old age, but the hue itself remains stable outside of infancy.
So if you were born with baby blues, you can expect to rock your blue eyes for life! Genetics means your eye color is likely to stay consistent from childhood until old age.