Getty Images
The colour of your eyes can tell your doctor a lot about your health, and can even reveal whether you might be prone to certain conditions.
Research suggests eye colour can signal if there’s a potential risk for some health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure and even brain tumours.
However, the colour of your eyes doesn’t mean this can cause the problem, or that a certain colour means you’re likely to develop the problem – it just means there’s a correlation.
Knowing what you might be up against can help you to stay aware, and healthy.
Lighter-coloured eyes: Those with blue, green or grey eyes could be at a higher risk for skin cancer than those with darker eyes, according to Dr Ruth Williams. There’s also the possibility you’re at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of vision loss. Lighter eyes can mean a lower your risk for cataracts and vitiligo.
Darker-coloured eyes: Research suggests those with brown or hazel eyes may be more likely to develop cataracts later in life, than those with lighter-coloured eyes. There’s also a greater chance you may develop vitiligo – a condition that causes the loss of skin pigmentation in blotches. There’s a lowered risk of developing skin cancer, but those with darker eyes still need to wear sunscreen and get moles properly checked out.
Changing colours: If your eyes change colour this can be a serious indication your health needs attention. Red eyes can suggest irritation, infection or allergies. And if the whites of your eyes turn yellow, you may be suffering from jaundice which requires urgent medical attention.
While this list covers some conditions associated with eye colour, always check out any concerns about any health issues you may have with your doctor.
