Can People Have Purple Eyes?

By Autumn Sprabary 

Purple (violet) eyes are a fascinating and mysterious phenomenon. While they’re often associated with fantasy and fiction, they can occur in real life under certain circumstances.  

Keep reading to explore some interesting facts about purple eyes, including their rarity, what causes their unique color, and health conditions linked to having violet irises. 

Purple irises have been made famous in literature and pop culture by fictional characters and celebrities using colored contact lenses. Below are other interesting facts about violet eye color: 

• Purple eyes do not actually contain any purple pigment. The appearance of a purple hue is usually caused by light reflecting off certain eye structures, camera effects, or specific medical conditions. 

• Purple eye color doesn’t always appear to be pure purple — it can range from shades of lavender to grayish violet. 

• People with violet eyes tend to have pale or light-colored skin and hair due to the genetic factors influencing pigmentation. 

True purple eyes are one of the rarest eye colors in the world. Most people have shades of brown, blue, green, or hazel eyes, but less than 1% of the world's population has violet eye color. Violet eyes occur when unique conditions affect how light interacts with the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. 

It's so rare that many people mistakenly believe purple eyes don’t exist. However, they can appear in individuals with specific genetic or medical traits. 

Violet eyes are not caused by a specific “purple” pigment. Rather, they result from the amount, type, and distribution of melanin (a dark pigment in the body) and how light reflects off of the iris. 

There are two layers to the iris: a front layer and a back layer. The back layer of the iris isn’t visible but has high levels of melanin, which gives this layer brown pigment. The amount of melanin in the iris’s front layer varies from person to person and determines their eye color.  

Violet eye color often results when a person has very little pigment in the front layer of the iris. Because of this, light reflects off the blood vessels and collagen fibers in the iris, producing a purple hue. 

Factors that can cause purple eye color include: 

Albinism 

Some individuals with a type of albinism (called ocular albinism) may have eyes that appear purple. Their irises have little to no pigment, making the underlying blood vessels more visible. This causes light to reflect in a way that gives the irises a red, pink, or purple appearance. 

Genetics 

Rare genetic mutations or combinations of genes may also contribute to violet irises. 

In some cases, violet eyes can be linked to certain eye conditions. While these are uncommon, it’s important to be aware of them: 

• Fuchs’ heterochromic uveitis (FHU) – A condition causing inflammation in the front of the eye, which can lead to pigment loss in the iris.

• Horner’s syndrome – A disease that may occur after a stroke. It can impact the eyes, including the color and size of the pupil. 

• Pigment dispersion syndrome – A condition in which the iris’s pigment flakes off and travels to other parts of the eye, which can change eye color. 

• Waardenburg syndrome – A collection of genetic conditions that can affect the skin, hair, and eye color. It may also impact hearing. 

 Although these conditions can contribute to purple-looking eyes, they often require medical attention to prevent complications. If you suspect a health condition might be affecting your eye color, it’s important to consult an eye care professional. 

While having purple eyes is a beautiful and unique trait, it’s essential to protect them from ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Due to their lack of pigment, violet eyes may be more sensitive to sunlight than other eye colors. Wearing a hat and a quality pair of sunglasses when outdoors can help keep your eyes healthy and your vision comfortable. 

SOURCES 

1. Is it possible to have purple eyes (violet eyes)? ContactsDirect. July 2024.* 
2. Is it possible to have purple eyes? Eyebuydirect. August 2023.* 
3. Melanin. Cleveland Clinic. March 2022. 
4. Eye colors. Cleveland Clinic. March 2024. 
5. Eye colors: What is the rarest, the most common and why eyes are different colors. Glasses.com. April 2023.* 

The sources listed here have been provided for informational purposes only. The citation of a particular source does not constitute an endorsement or approval of EssilorLuxottica products, services, or opinions by such source.  

*Like Readers.com, ContactsDirect, Eyebuydirect, and Glasses.com are affiliates of EssilorLuxottica.  

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SOURCES: 

1. How much do glasses cost. Glasses.com. December 2022.* 
2. How much do glasses cost? All About Vision. September 2019.* 
3. Get discount glasses without insurance? Here’s how. All About Vision. September 2019.* 
4. Get free or low-cost eye care. Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH). April 2022. 
5. See more and be more with OneSight. All About Vision. January 2024.* 
6. Eye exam costs in 2024: Just as expensive as everything else? All About Vision. April 2022.* 
7. Myopia (nearsightedness). American Optometric Association. Accessed November 2024. 
8. Progressive lenses. Cleveland Clinic. October 2023.  

The sources listed here have been provided for informational purposes only. The citation of a particular source does not constitute an endorsement or approval of EssilorLuxottica products, services, or opinions by such source.   

*Like Foster Grant, Glasses.com, All About Vision, and AAV Media, LLC are affiliates of EssilorLuxottica.