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Amber Eyes: Amber Colour and Comparison to Brown Eyes
Published on March 3rd, 2025
Amber eyes are a distinct beauty as their light brown colour pops with a golden or copper tint. The amber eye colour is a rare one. According to the Vision Centre Organisation only 5% of the population has them. Amber eyes are also found amongst animals such as wolves and cats, making it a truly striking facial feature. Read on for all there is to know about amber eyes, and how they are distinguished from brown eyes.
Different Types of Eye Colours
There are several different types of eye colours including amber, brown, green, hazel, blue and grey.
What is an Amber Eye Colour?
An amber eye colour is a rare golden or coppery eye colour. Its appearance will often most resemble a warm, yellow-brown or even golden tint. This golden hue makes it distinct from hazel and brown eyes.
What Causes an Amber Eye Colour?
The cause of amber eye is a higher concentration of the pigment eumelanin.According to the Vision Centre Organisation, a person typically inherits Amber eyes recessively, which means both parents must pass on the same gene variants. A combination of two types of melanin are present in amber eyes. Eumelanin is a pigment that appears black-brown and pheomelanin is a reddish-yellow pigment that gives a yellow tint to the eyes. A higher concentration of pheomelanin contributes to the distinctive golden hue which is characteristic to the amber eye colour.
Are Amber Eye Colours Rare?
According to The Tech Interactive Organisation only 5% of the population has amber eyes, making them a rarer eye colour.
What are the Genetic Factors Behind Amber Eyes?
Genetic factors, such as recessive genes, play a key role in a person having amber eyes. According to the Vision Centre Organisation, amber eyes are inherited in a recessive pattern, meaning both parents must pass on the same gene variants for their child to develop this tint. However, this does not mean both parents must have amber eyes for it to be passed on. Other eye colours, like blue and green, can contribute to forming an amber hue.
How does Amber Eye Colour Differ from Brown Eye Colour?
Amber eyes differ from brown eyes in their colour makeup. Amber eyes have a golden, yellow or coppery hue due to their lower concentration of melanin. Contrastingly, brown eyes are a richer, dark brown without the warmer hues of amber eyes.
What are the Most Common Characteristics of People with Amber Eyes?
The most common characteristics associated with people who have amber eyes include passion and wisdom. As written by Florance Saul, an author specialising in Spirituality, they also have spiritual connotations. In Native American folklore, there are references to warriors and healers being born with amber-colored irises as a sign of their connection to nature and its healing energies.
How do Amber Eyes Get Their Unique Appearance?
Amber eyes get their unique appearance due to the increased amount of pheomelanin present. Amber eyes contain both eumelanin and pheomelanin, two types of pigment. According to the Vision Centre Organisation, eumelanin is a pigment that appears black-brown in colour and pheomelanin contributes to a yellowish tint in the eyes. A high amount of pheomelanin will allow for the yellowish tint that is characteristic of amber eyes.
Is Amber Eye Colour More Common in Certain Ethnicities or Regions?
Amber eyes are more common among people in Asia, South America and South Africa.
What are the Differences Between Amber and Hazel Eyes?
The difference between amber and hazel eyes lies in the differing iris colours they present. Amber eyes have a light brown colour accompanied by distinct golden or copper hues. Hazel eyes, on the other hand, have a combination of brown, green and gold hues.
Can Amber Eye Colour Change Over Time?
Amber eye colours can appear to colour change under certain lighting conditions. However, they do not usually change colour over time completely. If they do change colour completely, it could be due to an underlying medical condition. Conditions such as Heterochromic Iridocyclitis can be a more serious factor in eye colour change as one of the symptoms includes a loss of pigment in the iris.
What are the Best Makeup Tips for Enhancing Amber Eyes?
The best makeup tips for enhancing amber eyes, includes using eyeshadows like copper, bronze, gold or earthy browns. Their warm tones will complement the golden hues of amber eyes for a rich, striking appearance. For those who want a pop of colour green eyeshadow particularly emeralds or forest greens, create a striking contrast and focal point.Your choice of eyeshadow will also depend on the outfit you are wearing, as you don’t want your eyeshadow colour to clash with your ensemble. Cooler-toned eye shadows, such as blues and silvers should be avoided as they clash with the natural warmth amber eyes provide. Bring depth and intensity to the eyes by using dark mascara for your lashes such as black, or even a deep brown.
What Glasses Frame Colours Complement Amber Eye Colour?
Glasses frame colours that complement amber eyes can be those that come in similarly warm tones, such as tortoiseshell and light browns. Contrastingly, you may want to opt for rich tones such as deep reds or olive greens for a complimentary yet more striking focal point on the face. Black is always a classic choice for frame colour, and for amber eyes, it contrasts beautifully with the golden hues of the iris.
