64: Eye colors divulge Health and Personality

Light eyes are less likely to have vitiligo. Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder described as lacking or losing pigments in the skin. Researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine discovered that most likely 3,000 people have this disease. People suffering from this disease were all Non-Hispanic European ancestry – 43 had dark eyes, 30 with green or hazel eyes and 27 people with blue or gray eyes. More so, they have the possibility of getting thyroid disease, lupus and type 1 diabetes.

Light eyed people are more competitive. A recent study conducted by Australian researchers discovered that people with dark eyes were compassionate, good-natured and charitable while light eyed people were less agreeable and more competitive.

Dark eyed people have a lower possibility of getting muscular degeneration based on the course of study of 171 participants published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. "A dark iris obstructs more ultraviolet light," says Christopher Quinn, OD, secretary-treasurer of the American Optometric Association. Thus, UV light endangers the light colored iris, leading to macular degeneration, but extra light may also cause retinal degeneration.

Another research study found dark eyed people have little possibility of getting melanoma. A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention had 500 white children, from 6 to 10 years old that for four years their DNA samples were taken and data was composed of sun exposure. Moles mostly develop in blue eyed children as compared to children who didn`t inherit this gene. Blue or green eyed people have a higher risk of melanomas of the eye due to less light-absorbing pigment to protect the eyes from the damage of the sun. Henceforth, the best way to safeguard your eyes is to use large sunglasses or UV absorbent contact lenses.

Discuss the meaning of the words with your teacher.

1) pigment

2) compassionate

3) muscular degeneration

4) retinal degeneration

5) melanoma

1) Give the comparison between light eyed people and dark eyed people.

2) What does eye color tell about one`s health?

3) What is vitiligo and who suffers most?

4) How do you protect your eyes from the scorching sun?