Are Black Eyes Rare?

No, true black eyes do not exist. What appear to be black eyes are actually very dark brown irises with high pigmentation. This is supported by numerous sources, including ophthalmological and genetic research.

Eye color is determined by the amount and type of melanin in the iris. Brown eyes have the most melanin, while blue eyes have the least. Eyes that appear black simply have a significantly high concentration of melanin, making them appear extremely dark.

• Brown Eyes: The most common eye color globally, comprising possibly almost 80% of the world's population.
• Blue Eyes: The second most common eye color.
• Black Eyes (Misconception): Not a true eye color; very dark brown eyes are often mistaken for black.

Many sources confirm this:

• Verywell Health: States explicitly that "Black is not an eye color. While some eyes may look black, they're either just a very dark brown or large pupils."
• All About Vision: Reinforces the idea that dark brown eyes are often perceived as black.
• Glasses.com: Similarly points out that "No one actually has black eyes. But very dark brown irises can ..."

Therefore, the rarity is not in the eye color itself but in the extremely high concentration of melanin resulting in an apparent black coloration. This is why the perception of having "black eyes" is not uncommon, but the underlying eye color is still brown.