Heterochromia iridium is a condition in which people have eyes of different colours. For example a blue eye and a brown eye (like Alexander the Great, David Bowie or Kate Bosworth). Or two different shades of blue (like Kiefer Sutherland). It is also known as complete hetereochromia. This is usually caused by genetic chimerism (inheriting a mix of two sets DNA from zygotes/embryos that fused together early in pregnancy). Chimeras really have two sets of DNA, depending on the body cells. Such people might also have patches of skin or hair with a slightly different colour.
Here is a photo of David Bowie's eyes.
Central heterochromia is a different condition. It is when both eyes are a blend of two colours, typically with a darker ring around the pupil, like this.
There are lots of possible variations. More examples:
According to Wikipedia, complete heterochromia (like David Bowie) is found in about 1% of the population, while central heterochromia is much rarer, with an incidence of just 0.05%. Unlike complete heterochromia, central heterochromia is hereditary in a dominant manner, which makes me wonder why central heterochromia is so rare.
Famous people with central heterochromia include Angelina Jolie, Paris Hilton and Alyson Hannigan (who plays Lily in How I Met Your Mother).
I have central heterochromia too (blue and yellow, almost like the 2nd picture), which I inherited from my father. Several members of my family have it, so I never thought of it as uncommon. I was shocked to find out that only 1 in 2000 people had it - although to be fair these statistics are probably for the global population, not Europe, where eye pigmentation has the most variations.
I also have hair heterochromia (a small patch a lighter hair on my head), so it's possible that I am also a genetic chimera.
Do you or any people you know have central heterochromia iridum?
Here is a photo of David Bowie's eyes.
Central heterochromia is a different condition. It is when both eyes are a blend of two colours, typically with a darker ring around the pupil, like this.
There are lots of possible variations. More examples:
According to Wikipedia, complete heterochromia (like David Bowie) is found in about 1% of the population, while central heterochromia is much rarer, with an incidence of just 0.05%. Unlike complete heterochromia, central heterochromia is hereditary in a dominant manner, which makes me wonder why central heterochromia is so rare.
Famous people with central heterochromia include Angelina Jolie, Paris Hilton and Alyson Hannigan (who plays Lily in How I Met Your Mother).
I have central heterochromia too (blue and yellow, almost like the 2nd picture), which I inherited from my father. Several members of my family have it, so I never thought of it as uncommon. I was shocked to find out that only 1 in 2000 people had it - although to be fair these statistics are probably for the global population, not Europe, where eye pigmentation has the most variations.
I also have hair heterochromia (a small patch a lighter hair on my head), so it's possible that I am also a genetic chimera.
Do you or any people you know have central heterochromia iridum?
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