I have blue eyes and find them to be very light-sensitive. Are blue eyes at greater risk than brown eyes for any diseases because they have less natural protection from the sun?
Interesting question! The “blue” colour stems from having less melanin in the top layer of the iris. Although this allows light to reflect in a way that gives your eyes that striking hue, it also means less protection from UV rays and intense light exposure than eyes with more melanin. In addition to being sensitive to bright light, your eyes’ lack of melanin may increase your risk for certain conditions like ocular melanoma (a rare eye cancer) and age-related macular degeneration (a leading cause of vision loss). Evidence for increased risk of cataracts is surprisingly quite mixed. I recommend investing in good-quality sunglasses that provide ample coverage and 100% UV protection—solid advice for everyone, of course, but especially for you.
Another unexpected correlation, this time about our ears: some studies have explored links between blue eyes and slightly elevated risks of noise-induced hearing loss, likely due to shared melanin-related pathways in the inner ear. The research results are far from definitive; however, protecting your ears from excessive noise exposure is a great idea for many reasons.
It’s not all bad news about blue eyes, though! Some research suggests blue-eyed people may be less likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), as their pupils allow more light in during darker months, helping to stabilize the sleep-wake
cycle. Fascinatingly, blue eyes are thought to have originated as a mutation in humans 6,000 to 10,000 years ago in a single individual in the Baltic region, possibly in response to long, dark winters in higher latitudes. Since then, blue eyes appear to have been genetically selected for over time because they offer adaptive benefits in those locations. For example, in Denmark today, around 65 percent of the population has blue eyes!
So, what’s the takeaway? Protect those beautiful baby blues with proper sun care so they stay healthy for life, and don’t forget regular visits to your eye doctor.
