Why does mila kunis have amazing eyes?
(what is heterochromia iridium?)
Have you ever taken a glimpse of someone’s eyes and had a realization that they’re just so beautiful for a reason you can’t seem to explain? I was first intrigued by this effect when I realized that Mila Kunis had indescribably amazing eyes. So I began to research it, and this is what I have come up with.
Usually this infatuation is caused by a difference in colorization of each individual iris, such as in hazel eyes, part of the eye can be blue, brown, or even green. The splash of colors creates an entrancing appeal that is irresistible to admire. What causes the difference in color? This is caused by a medical condition called “Heterochromia Iridium” (Heh-ter-row-krow-me-uh Ih-rid-ee-um). Hetero- means "other" or "different" while -chromia is related to color, so when the two are put together it means that the irises of someone are two different colors.
Heterochromia iridium can be caused by many different factors and is found more commonly among cats and dogs, but is also present in humans as well. To name a few celebrities with this condition: Mila Kunis, Kate Bosworth, David Bowie, and Christopher Walken.
Usually this infatuation is caused by a difference in colorization of each individual iris, such as in hazel eyes, part of the eye can be blue, brown, or even green. The splash of colors creates an entrancing appeal that is irresistible to admire. What causes the difference in color? This is caused by a medical condition called “Heterochromia Iridium” (Heh-ter-row-krow-me-uh Ih-rid-ee-um). Hetero- means "other" or "different" while -chromia is related to color, so when the two are put together it means that the irises of someone are two different colors.
Heterochromia iridium can be caused by many different factors and is found more commonly among cats and dogs, but is also present in humans as well. To name a few celebrities with this condition: Mila Kunis, Kate Bosworth, David Bowie, and Christopher Walken.
Sections of the eye
Heterochromia can affect many different areas of the eye. Pigmentation is responsible for the coloration of your body as a whole. It (specifically melanin, which is found in melanocytes) produces the color of your skin, hair, eyes, and is responsible for things such as moles, freckles, and sun spots. Sometimes the pigmentation of the iris is unevenly and asymmetrically divided between eyes. Someone with brown eyes has a deeper pigmentation than someone with with blue eyes. (Jun, n.d.) In the cases of Albino people, their bodies lacks pigmentation and the melanocytes of the body aren't producing much melanin and as a result, their skin is very pale, their hair is white or a light blond, and their eyes are red because their iris has no pigmentation and what we see are the blood vessels underneath.
how many different cases are there?
Heterochromia can be inherited, but can also be caused by trauma, injury, disease, or a syndrome. (J. D., n.d.)
Kate Bosworth has an genetic case of Heterochromia where she has two completely different colored eyes. This could have just been a birth "defect" (however, in my opinion, I don't consider it to be a defect rather than a fortunate trait) or something that has been inherited from her parents where the gene for pigmentation was un-clearly dominant or recessive.
This particular case (Kate Bosworth's) is a hereditary example of heterochromia. Typically, inherited heterochromia is harmless. They don't feel any pain or discomfort in their eyes. On the other hand, people who do not inherit it may have endured a trauma or a syndrome which resulted in heterochromia symptoms. These experiences can be painful such as how David Bowie has experienced. Many people do not consider David Bowie's eyes to be affected by heterochromia, however if you look, his left eye is grayer than his right. (Best of Heterochromia 2009) David Bowie's heterochromia incidence was caused by an injury during a brawl in his youth.
Kate Bosworth has an genetic case of Heterochromia where she has two completely different colored eyes. This could have just been a birth "defect" (however, in my opinion, I don't consider it to be a defect rather than a fortunate trait) or something that has been inherited from her parents where the gene for pigmentation was un-clearly dominant or recessive.
This particular case (Kate Bosworth's) is a hereditary example of heterochromia. Typically, inherited heterochromia is harmless. They don't feel any pain or discomfort in their eyes. On the other hand, people who do not inherit it may have endured a trauma or a syndrome which resulted in heterochromia symptoms. These experiences can be painful such as how David Bowie has experienced. Many people do not consider David Bowie's eyes to be affected by heterochromia, however if you look, his left eye is grayer than his right. (Best of Heterochromia 2009) David Bowie's heterochromia incidence was caused by an injury during a brawl in his youth.
As previously stated, you can see his left eye appears to be grayer than his right one and it's because his left pupil is more dilated than his right one is. He actually displays the effects of “Homer’s Syndrome” which is a difference in dilation of the pupils, but that is still categorized as a case of Heterochromia Iridium. And now, to explain my favorite case of heterochromia in a celebrity. Here is Mila Kunis:
She has a case of "Central Heterochromia" where there is the presence of an extra ring of color surrounding the pupils of her eyes. This is what causes the hazel eye effect. Her irises contain flints of color that make a wonderful array of colors in her eyes.
A special case (WAArdenburg's syndrome)
One of the most fascinating types of heterochromia is the “Waardenburg’s Syndrome” which gives the appearance of two extremely pale eyes that look almost lucid and illuminated. The effect that it has on the eyes is not directly related to Waardenburg’s Syndrome, but is actually just a side effect. Waardenburg’s is actually a hear-loss inducing syndrome and may also have the effect of making the eyes, skin, and hair very pale than their DNA originally sequenced them to be (Partington 1964).
Waardenburg's Syndrome is an inherited form of heterochromia which is present from the moment of birth. The syndrome is inherited because it is specifically a dominant trait however people who do inherit it do not necessarily show all of the symptoms and characteristics. These characteristics are defined as a "white forelock" (hair that grows on the forehead), a broad nose, very close and almost merged eyebrows (practically a unibrow), and heterochromia iridium. (Partington 1964) As seen in the picture on the left, not all of the characteristics are easily visible. Along with Waardenburg's Syndrome there are other syndromes that could cause heterochromia iridium such as Sturge-Weber syndrome or Parry-Romberg syndrome (Partington 1964).
Waardenburg's Syndrome is an inherited form of heterochromia which is present from the moment of birth. The syndrome is inherited because it is specifically a dominant trait however people who do inherit it do not necessarily show all of the symptoms and characteristics. These characteristics are defined as a "white forelock" (hair that grows on the forehead), a broad nose, very close and almost merged eyebrows (practically a unibrow), and heterochromia iridium. (Partington 1964) As seen in the picture on the left, not all of the characteristics are easily visible. Along with Waardenburg's Syndrome there are other syndromes that could cause heterochromia iridium such as Sturge-Weber syndrome or Parry-Romberg syndrome (Partington 1964).
When it comes to "curing" heterochromia iridium, the option of surgery is always available, however the operation can be rather pricey because it is a very fragile region to be operating on. In cases of heterochromia caused by glaucoma, medication is available to reduce the symptoms of glaucoma which can reduce the appearance of heterochromia in the eyes. However the effect of heterochromia doesn't always imply a physically painful experience, sometimes people with severe cases of heterochromia are discriminated because they are different from the average person. But in my opinion it's one of the most amazing conditions that someone could have, and people diagnosed with it should consider themselves lucky that they have it rather than a different more painful condition.
summary
In general, Heterochromia is a distinction between similarities of two eyes. It can be "contracted" in many different ways, such as by injury or inheritance, and is typically harmless. It is most commonly caused by a malfunction within the melanocytes in the eyes. While severe cases are not popular in the human body, a large percentage of humans are subject to the disorders of Heterochromia. However, natural dysfunctions of the body are not always as hideous as one may imagine them to be. Heterochromia Iridium is one prime example of how beautiful and asymmetrical the body can be. To me, it’s one of the most common displays of abstract art by the human body through science and that is a wonderful thing.
Click images to enlarge
Sources
Best of heterochromia. (2009, 3 12). Retrieved from http://www.tkbbblog.com/2009/03/12/best-of-heterochromia
J, D. (n.d.). What is heterochromia iridium?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-
heterochromia-iridum.htm
Jun, W. (n.d.). Pupil anomalies: reaction and red flags. Retrieved from
http://www.pacificu.edu/optometry/ce/courses/19433/pupilanompg2.cfm
Kaneshiro, N. (2001, Nov. 7). Heterochromia: medlineplus medical encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003319.htm
Partington, M. W. (1964, April 25). Waardenburg's syndrome and heterochromia iridum in a deaf school
population. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1922684/
Rehman, U. (n.d.). Heterochromia iridis. Retrieved from
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/8590/Heterochromia_iridis.aspx
J, D. (n.d.). What is heterochromia iridium?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-
heterochromia-iridum.htm
Jun, W. (n.d.). Pupil anomalies: reaction and red flags. Retrieved from
http://www.pacificu.edu/optometry/ce/courses/19433/pupilanompg2.cfm
Kaneshiro, N. (2001, Nov. 7). Heterochromia: medlineplus medical encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003319.htm
Partington, M. W. (1964, April 25). Waardenburg's syndrome and heterochromia iridum in a deaf school
population. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1922684/
Rehman, U. (n.d.). Heterochromia iridis. Retrieved from
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/8590/Heterochromia_iridis.aspx
