Why has my eye color changed over the years?

Question

When I was little my eyes were unmistakably blue but as I got older (like 10 or 11) my eyes started changing color so they were more turqouise, then they turned blue-gray, then just gray, and now I'm still trying to decide whether they're green, blue-gray, or gray. So, why?

Answer 1

OK, all. Eye color can change over time because of age or, unfortunately, disease.

Eye disease is a cause of color change. So, ask a doctor to examine your eyes if you notice a slow loss of color. The change could be due to Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis, Horner’s Syndrome, and pigmentary glaucoma.

Aging, however, is the usual cause of color change over time. It does so for 10 to 15% of the normal Caucasian population. These people’s eyes change slowly over many years after they reach adolescence.

Eye color probably changes for the same reason we have one head instead of two: genes. Genes determine all body characteristics — including changing eye color as we age.