The eyes of an individual are much like a fingerprint. The pattern that can be seen in the iris is unique and no two people will have the same “print.” Eye color can be an attraction for potential mates, change with your mood, and appear different in certain lights and colors. You may have wondered if eye color makes any difference to your quality of sight or your eye care needs. Believe it or not, it does!
Vision Differences
You may remember learning as a child that lighter surfaces reflect light, and darker colors absorb it. That same logic applies to light absorption through your eyes. Since darker eyes absorb more light, dark-eyed people may have better night vision. In contrast, lighter-eyed people generally have more sensitivity to light and suffer from issues such as cataracts as they grow older, as there is less pigment in lighter colored eyes to filter out the sun’s rays. Just as dark eyes have some advantages, so do light eyes. For example, lighter eyed individuals may have better perception of color variances and shade differences.
Reaction Time
One interesting study indicates that your eye color may have an effect on how quickly you respond to stimuli such as in sports. The research stated that dark eyed study subjects had an advantage when it came to sports that required quick response (such as tennis, and hitting baseballs) whereas lighter eyed people were stronger in activities that required taking action at your own pace (bowling and throwing baseballs).
Whether you have light or dark eyes, your eye care needs are similar. You should plan to see your optometrist at least once a year to ensure your beautiful eyes stay strong and healthy for a lifetime, no matter what their color is.
