Les Jones: Word of the Day: Heterochromia Iridium

February 08, 2007

Word of the Day > Word of the Day: Heterochromia Iridium

Heterochromia iridium is a difference in eye color, with causes ranging from genetics to disease to injury.

Heterochromia generally refers to two eyes of different color, but there are variations. Altered areas of coloration within one eye is secular heterochromia. An individual's eyes can become darker (hyperchromia) or lighter (hypochromia).

Some famous people with heterochromia include Alexander the Great and actors Dan Akroyd, Christopher Walken, and Kate Bosworth, who has both heterochromia and secular heterochromia. David Bowie has one eye with an enlarged pupil due to a fistfight as a schoolboy, though it's arguable whether or not that constitutes heterochromia, which usually affects the iris.

Heterochromia is fairly common in dogs. It's particularly common in certain breeds, such as dalmations, border collies, and huskies.

More info:
- Ask Uncle Cecil on heterochromia
- Google image search for "heterochromia"

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Comments

I had a cousin (well a 2nd cousin) named Phyllis who had a green eye and a blue eye. Later we got a cat with the same eyes. We named her Phyllis.

Posted by: Kathy T. at February 08, 2007

i've got a heterochromic husky. it's always the first thing strangers pick up on, and nobody seems to react neutrally to it; it's either fascination or weirding-out.

Posted by: Nomen Nescio at February 08, 2007

Les, the medical term for unequal sized or a single enlarged pupil is called anisocoria. Strictly speaking, it is a different condition than heterochromia.

Just discovered your blog, by way of Tamara at VFTP. Very impressive!

Posted by: Ambulance Driver at February 10, 2007

Muchas gracias. It seemed like the enlarged pupil might be different thing. Thanks for the clarification and the new word.

Welcome, and thanks.

Posted by: Les Jones at February 10, 2007

My almost 2-yr old son has heterochromia -- that is, his right eye is brown; his left is blue/grey. I have brown and my wife does too. My wife's family is all brown. My mom's is brown, as well. But my father has blue eyes and blond hair. Even so, my 5-yr old daughter has brown eyes. FYI, we have another kid due soon. I wonder if he or she will have brown eyes, or will be yet another member to the heterochromian revolutionaries?

Posted by: robert myers at March 16, 2007

I have an 8 month old daughter with one greenish/brown eye and one light blue with brown specks.... it is really very cool looking!

Posted by: LeeAnn at August 29, 2007

I have a cat with this condition. She's a Siamese mix and has one blue eye and one gold eye. Also, when her eyes reflect light, one reflects green, the other red. If only that was the strangest thing about her!

Posted by: Gail at May 25, 2008

My huskie mix also is heterochromic, one eye is half brown half blue, and one is blue, although the all blue one developed cataract so now its just white :(.

not sure what other mix she is but a lot of people have told us border collie, and reading that its a common breed to have this im now convinced.

shes so beautiful none the less.

Posted by: Justin at June 25, 2008

i have different coloured eyes. One dark brown, one light blue. I have set up a "different coloured eyes " group on Facebook. If you have heterochromia or even if you are just interested please feel free to join.

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29457228311

Regards,

Mike

Posted by: Michael at August 14, 2008