Can Eye Color Changes Indicate Possible Problems?

Eye color can indicate a wide range of conditions, some benign, some potentially serious, says AARP’s recent article entitled “What Your Eye Color Can Say About Your Health.”

Let’s look at some of the possibilities:

A hazy blue or white ring that forms around your cornea. This is called arcus senilisis and is caused by a build-up of lipids, or fat in your eye. Most seniors get this, and it’s usually harmless. However, it can make your eyes appear a different color. If you notice this ring, it’s smart to see your eye doctor and primary care provider because it can be a sign of high cholesterol.

Loss of pigment. There are some eye conditions that can cause your orbs to lose pigment over time. One is pigmentary glaucoma, a condition where pigment rubs off of the back of your iris, raising eye pressure. It can also occur after cataract surgery. Both are treatable, so it’s very critical to see your eye doctor if you notice any symptoms, such as halos or blurred vision.

Iris freckles. These are small brown spots on your iris that can make your eyes look like they’ve changed color. Don’t worry, they’re harmless. However, they should be checked by an eye doctor.

Red in the clear covering over your eye. Uveitis is an inflammation of the middle layer of your eyeball. It can be caused by an infection such as shingles, or from an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. It frequently makes your conjunctiva (the clear covering over your eye) appear red. However, it can also make your eye color look different, if the inflammation causes your iris to stick to your lens. If you see any redness or eye color changes, accompanied by light sensitivity, blurry vision and/or seeing “floaters,” contact your eye doctor right away because uveitis can be serious—it can result in vision loss.

Different-colored eyes caused by different pupil sizes. This is a very rare condition that affects the eye and surrounding tissue on only one side of the face. It’s usually due to a stroke, tumor, or spinal cord injury. A symptom is uneven pupil size. This can make it look like you have different-colored eyes.

Clouding of the lens. Cataracts can cause a clouding of the eye lens that can make your eye look milky white. Roughly 25% of all people in their late 60s will have one, and more than a third of people in their 70s, according to the National Eye Institute. They can easily be removed with surgery.

Brown eyes that become darker, hazel eyes turn brown. If you have glaucoma, the first-line treatment is often a class of medications called prostaglandins that can change eye color. However, it doesn’t usually cause color changes in either blue or green eyes.

As you age, it is even more important to have your Power of Attorney and Health Directives in place.  Reach out to the Law Office of John A. Laine, P.C. to find out how we can help!

Reference: AARP (Sep. 8, 2022) “What Your Eye Color Can Say About Your Health”