What is it about blue eyes that we love? Is it their rarity? Or is it just simply the color? One thing someone is bound to mention within a short time of meeting a blue eyed person is something about their eye color. I was curious, so I decided to research more about this mysterious question. From the website, theodysseyonline.com, I saw that the author and I had the same thought. The author states, “I decided to start researching why we tend to like blue eyes so much. As I read through more and more articles, I began to learn more about the history and biology about blue eyes.” Here are some facts about blue eyes that I found interesting:

1. Only 8 percent of the world’s population has blue eyes.

2. There is no blue pigment (or color) in blue irises.

Irises are the contractile, circular diaphragm forming the colored portion of the eye and containing a circular opening, the pupil, in its center.

3. The shade of blue is dependent on mineral deposits and light.

4. Blue-eyed people are more sensitive to light.

5. It is a theory that blue eyes allow for better night vision.

6. Blue eyes were actually the result of a gene mutation.

7. The OCA2 gene is responsible for blue eyes.

So, did you learn something new? Has your curiosity been piqued? Maybe next time you look at someone’s blue eyes you will think a little more than just, “Aren’t they pretty?” You should think of how rare and unique blue eyes are. And if you have blue eyes then you should probably be thinking of how special and blessed you are to have them. If you have blue eyes, you might find yourself taking a closer look in the mirror at your optical sapphires.

By Grace Gurr

Photo Credit: Cosmopolitan