Where Does Eye Color Come From?
Remember back to the last time you experienced the birth of a baby.....What are one of the first questions people ask? It’s “ WHAT COLOR ARE THEIR EYES?”
What makes the color of our eyes appear as they do? What role do genetics play? What if you don’t like your eye color..... can you change it? Are there any medications that can change the eye color? Get ready to explore the science behind eye color by starting at the beginning.......
Baby’s eye color can change. A baby can start out with blue eyes, for example, and change to brown as they age. It’s all dependent on a brown pigment called melanin which develops as a child ages. The more melanin present, the darker the eye color. Brown eyes have the most pigment saturation, green/hazel eyes have less melanin, and blue eyes have the least pigment. The color of eyes are dependent upon genetics. Genetics are complicated, but generally speaking brown trumps blue in the probabilities if there is a brown eyed parent. This is because darker pigment is the dominant trait in genetics. This isn’t to say that two brown eyed parents could not have a blue eyed child......its just very rare.
5 Things to Know About Safety and Your Eyes
Your Eyes.......We only have two of them so treat them well and learn how to keep them safe from harm. Here is a list of five vital ways to prevent injuries to one of your most precious assets, your vision.
- Wear Safety Glasses. Failure to wear protective eye wear is one of the main causes of job related injuries to the eye according to OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration). Safety glasses are made from a polycarbonate material which can withstand the impact of a .22 caliber bullet. Safety glasses at work protect you from foreign bodies and chemical exposure into the eye area. Wearing protective eyewear for yard work, weed eating, and cutting wood keeps injury from high velocity foreign bodies in the eye to a minimum.
- Wear Sunglasses with UV A and UV B protection. Doing so protects the thin skin around the eyes from sunburn, and also helps protect your ocular system. It has long been stated that excessive exposure to sunlight causes cataracts, so using ultraviolet (UV) protection in your sunglasses is vital. Many sunglasses, especially for children, do not contain UV filters. These can actually harm your eyes more, exposing more sunlight through a dilated pupil. Buyer beware: not all sun glasses are created equally.
- Make sure children’s glasses are made of polycarbonate material and have UV protection. This ensures a minimum exposure of ultraviolet rays which will pay off when they are older by helping prevent cataracts. The polycarbonate lens material gives maximum protection against breakage.
- Don’t obstruct vision with a child’s costume. During Halloween, opt for face paint instead of a mask that could occlude or obstruct vision. Also put reflector tape on the child’s costume. Bulky masks that accompany halloween costumes can be a deterrent to the child seeing out of the mask. During Halloween or a costume party, keep it fun be “seeing and being seen.”
- Use the wisdom of preventative maintenance. Get yearly eye examinations where the entire retina is evaluated with a a dilated exam. Just as you change oil on your car every three thousand miles keeps it running in tip top shape, the same holds true for your ocular health. Routine check ups, sunglasses, vitamins, and smoking cessation will keep those peepers healthy and clear.
It is incumbent upon us all to be educated on these facts for ourselves, our family members, and our co workers.
Applying these pointers can be used to keep your eyes healthy, efficient, clear and safe.
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