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What are the top 3 rarest eye colors?

Published in Eye Color Rarity 2 mins read

The top 3 rarest eye colors are generally considered to be red, violet, and grey. While some might argue that green eyes are the rarest, these other colors are less commonly found.

Eye Color Rarity Explained

Eye color is determined by the amount and type of melanin present in the iris. Different levels of melanin result in the variety of eye colors we see.

  • Melanin's Role: Melanin is a pigment that absorbs light. Less melanin typically results in lighter eye colors, while more melanin produces darker colors.

The Top 3 Rarest Eye Colors:

Here's a breakdown of why these colors are considered so rare:

Rank Eye Color Rarity Explanation
1 Red Very Rare This color typically only occurs in individuals with albinism. It's caused by a lack of pigment in the iris, so you're mostly seeing the blood vessels behind the iris.
2 Violet Rare The violet color is believed to be a result of a mixture of red undertones and the scattering of light. It's an exceptionally rare mutation.
3 Grey Rare This color also has low amounts of melanin. The iris's appearance is influenced by the way light scatters within it.

Green Eyes

While green is often cited as the rarest, some sources suggest that it has been overtaken by red, violet, and grey. Green eyes are caused by a small amount of melanin, leading to the scattering of light rather than absorption.

  • Rayleigh Scattering: The light scattering in green eyes is due to something called Rayleigh scattering. This optical effect makes the iris appear green instead of a different color.

Conclusion

The rarity of eye colors like red, violet, and grey adds to their allure and mystique. These colors result from unique genetic and optical phenomena making them some of the least frequently seen colors in the human population.