The green eyes they are special. It is often said that the eyes are the reflection of the soul. Regardless of whether this metaphor holds true or not, it must be said that the eyes say a lot about who we are, our ancestry, and even how others see us.
Why are green eyes so special? The reason is very simple: it is because they are very rare, since only 2% of the world’s population has eyes of this color.
If you have green eyes or you know someone with this shade of eyes, you will surely be interested in knowing all these curious facts with a scientific basis. So you can discover everything behind this particular shade.
Read this note to learn more about green eyes and what they say about people who have them.
green eyes: why are they so rare?
The color of our eyes is formed by a combination of melanin with other pigments. This combination gives the iris its blue, brown, or green color.
Thus, the coloration of green eyes is rare, and is characterized by having very little melanin and a higher degree of the pigment called “lipochrome”. This lack of melanin gives the iris a bluish hue which, mixed with this lipochrome, gives rise to a green color.
1. Green eyes: one of the rarest colors that exist
The green color in the eyes, both dark green eyes and light green eyes, with that 2% incidence worldwide, is one of the rarest colors that exist in the world. In fact, it occupies exactly the 5th position of rarity.
The colors that follow on the list are amber (in fourth place), violet (one of its most famous exponents is Liz Taylor), completely black (with 1% of the population) and finally, the rarest. of all: red.
The red color appears mainly among albinos, and is actually a reflection of the blood vessels in the retina from the sun.
On the other hand, the most common color in the world is brown, and it is estimated that 50% of the world’s population has them in this color.
So… What does green eye color mean, and what’s behind it?
2. European or Asian descent
Most people who have green eyes are located in Europe, or have ancestry from that continent. Especially from countries like Hungary and Icelandia.
20% of Hungarians have green eyes, while Iceland is almost the only country in which green eyes are an absolute majority: 80% of Icelanders have green eyes. Not bad for visiting, right?
Outside of Europe, the existence of genes for the formation of this eye color has only been confirmed in Pashtun populations from Afghanistan and Pakistan.n. It was there that the famous photo of Sharbat Gula, the famous “girl with green eyes”, was taken, published by National Geographic in 1985. This photo has been recognized worldwide since then, it is impossible not to know who is being talked about when “the girl with green eyes” is mentioned. Afghan,” or “the green-eyed girl from National Geographic.
So you can be sure that, wherever you live, if you have green eyes, surely somewhere in your family tree there is a European or Asian person. For this reason, in some parts of Latin America they are also very common, since there are descendants from several European countries.
3. Green eyes are the sexiest
Actually, this point can be completely subjective. However, it should be mentioned that a study by the Impulse Corporation in Los Angeles seems to have shown that the majority of people (in the United States) consider green eyes to be sexy.
In addition, according to this study, the majority of the participants said that, if they could change the color of their eyes, they would choose green. These people would choose both dark green eyes and light green eyes.
There is a kind of mysticism behind this eye color, in which the strength of brown eyes and the calm of light blue ones are combined.
4. They are not really green
As we explained earlier, it is actually the combination of melanin with other pigments that makes them green. That is why the coloration of green eyes is rare, and is characterized by having very little melanin and a higher degree of the pigment called “lipochrome”.
5. Green eyes and personality
The investigation concluded that people with green or blue eyes are more prone to competition than those with dark eyesand that they can be a bit off-putting when it comes to being first.
While it may seem like finding a relationship between eye color and personality can be a bit inconsistent, the researchers believe that this has to do with genetic and, above all, evolutionary issues.
6. Increased trust and empathy
In this line that links eye color with personality, another study found that people who have green eyes generate more confidence in others and they tend to be quite empathetic, though not as empathetic as those with brown eyes.
Also that are more likely to show their feelingsand develop more complex emotions.
7. Greater pain tolerance
According to a study from the University of Medicine at Pittsburgh, people with green or blue eyes (or at least women with this trait) are more tolerant to pain than those with dark eyes.
The conclusion was reached from a study carried out with 58 pregnant women, of which 24 had dark eyes and 34 light eyes, among whom there were women with light blue eyes, light green eyes and dark green eyes. Comparing pre- and postpartum pain and anxiety, they found that those with light eyes resisted better.
8. Has led people to execution
Today we find it a beautiful feature, but green eyes were not always very well seen. These oddities that we mentioned before have caused that, In past centuries, this eye color was associated with dangerous characteristics..
In times where the “witch hunt” was popularized, having green eyes was cause for suspicion; and if she was associated with red hair, it was reason for a woman to burn at the stake, without the right to reply.
Luckily, to this day people with dark green eyes or light green eyes are no longer considered as being sent by the devil, and instead have become an icon of sensuality and eccentricity. Or, at least, considering that beauty is subjective, many people may not like green eyes but no one will be judged on their hair or eye color.
Celebrities with dark green eyes and light green eyes
Within the 2% of the world’s population that has green eyes, there are obviously also some celebrities. For example, Olivia Wilde, Ian Somerhalder, Jesse Williams, Jude Law, Gael García Bernal, Rihanna, and Emma Stoneamong many others.
What do you think? Are you one of those who love green eyes? What other information would you add to the list?
Sources:
Psychology and Mind
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