Mismatched Eye Color

If you meet someone whose eyes are two different colors, you may think he or she put in a mismatched pair of colored contact lenses by mistake or is trying to loook trendy. But it is more likely HETEROCHROMIA IRIDIUM, a condition in which a person has two different colored eyes or irises, to be precise. Although fairly common among dogs, cats, and horses, Heterochromia Iridium is quite rare in humans. In another form of this condition, Heterochromia Iridis, the different colors are in the same eye, creating a piebald or mottled effect. Either type of Heterochromia can be congenital or acquired by disease, injury, or drug reaction.

Eyes of different colors can be another of the cluster of signs known as Horner's Syndrome. (see Droopy Eyelids, CLICK HERE) Mismatched eye color can also be a sign of Fuchs' Heterochromic Iridocyclitis, an eye disorder that tends to strike young adults. Often people with this condition which typically affects only one eye also have floaters and blurry vision and are at increased risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma.

Having mismatched eye color can also signal a type of glaucoma called Pigmentary Glaucoma, which primarily affects young men. Other signs of Pigmentary Glaucoma may include blurry vision and occasional pain after physical exercise or exertion.

Two different colored eyes can also be a tip-off that you have had an eye injury. And it can be a rare sign of both non malignant skin tumors and skin cancer.

Some eye drops used to treat glaucoma, such as Latanoprost (Xalantan), can darken the iris. If you put the drops in only one eye, they may leave you with two different-colored eyes. Doctors may not prescribe this to blue-eyed people because the darkening of the eyes is permanent. Eyelids and eyelashes have also been seen to darken.