Contents
What is the cause of heterochromia?
To understand this differentiation of eye color, we have to look at how the iris works: “This is located behind the cornea. It is a muscle that works like a sphincter, which will open and close depending on the light. This explains, for example, dilation when it is dark, ”explains Pierre Quéromès, ophthalmologist at the Quinze-Vingts Hospital (Paris). This eye muscle is made up of melanin, pigments the quantity of which will determine the color of the eyes: “The more important it is, the darker the color of the eye will be. The most common in the population being blue and brown, while green is rarer ”. Wall eyes will therefore come from a different amount of melanin in each eye: “We can distinguish total heterochromia, where each eye has a different color, from partial heterochromia when one eye has two different colors! “
Wall eyes: multiple origins
Heterochromia can be divided into two distinct origins: congenital and acquired. The first, which concerns the vast majority of cases, is entirely due to the genetic heritage and has no consequences on health.
Acquired heterochromia, on the other hand, may be the harbinger of more serious pathologies : “These are extremely rare diseases such as Waardenburg syndrome, which is accompanied by deafness, or Fuchs iridocyclitis, which is inflammation of the eye. Acquired heterochromia can also result from trauma, uveitis or the presence of a tumor, but these probabilities are really very low ”, summarizes Dr. Quéromès.
Heterochromia in children: what reflexes to adopt?
“First of all, you must know that the color of the child’s eyes is not definitive until around six months. If it turns out that the child has wall eyes, it is recommended to go for an eye exam “. On the other hand, there is absolutely no need to worry too much, because there is a good chance that the cause is genetic: “If it is an acquired heterochromia due to a disease, it would be accompanied by symptoms. more serious such as inflammation for example. The presence of wall eyes without other symptoms is therefore not alarming, but it is fashionable to consult ”, tempers Pierre Quéromès. Namely: the color of the eyes can darken, never lighten. On the psycho side, if your child seems to have difficulty accepting his odd eyes, or is unsettled by teasing, you may decide to receive support from a psychologist.
Is there a treatment for small eyes?
These two eyes that seem so different, can we give them the same color? Strictly speaking, there is currently no treatment: “Heterochromia cannot be cured, but it can be concealed with contact lenses. We must also be careful not to use those sold in costume shops for example. You must first consult an ophthalmologist to avoid inconvenience and choose the most suitable. It is also extremely important to beware of so-called laser operations to treat wall eyes. These interventions, often performed outside the European Union, can have catastrophic side effects such as glaucoma or even cataracts ”warns Doctor Quéromès.
Wall eyes: people who live very well their heterochromia
If you do not live well having small eyes, know that several personalities of the galaxy people proudly show off their heterochromia! We can notably cite Wentworth Miller, actor who played in the television series Prison Break or Benedict Cumberbatch, main protagonist of the Sherlock series. On the feminine side, we think of the actress Mila Kunis (Black Swan, Ted…), or encore Kate Bosworth (Beyond the Sea…). However, beware of the common mistake of including the famous singer. David Bowie in this category: “The difference in color in the eyes of the singer of“ Ziggy Stardust ”does not come from heterochromia, but from a trauma resulting from a blow received in his childhood. The iris of one of his eyes having trouble closing, its color was slightly changed, ”explains Dr. Quéromès.