A 47-year-old member asked:
can eye color change?
5 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mika Hiramatsu answered
Pediatrics 32 years experience
Yes when young: Usually eye color is determined by about age 6 months. However, i had a patient whose eye color changed at age 6 years. I can't remember whether it was green to blue or vice versa.
5712 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Douglas Liva commented
Ophthalmology 40 years experience
Some glaucoma eye drops can cause darkening of the iris with prolonged use in susceptible individuals
Dec 5, 2012

Dr. William Goldstein answered
Ophthalmology 31 years experience
Unusual: Eye color change in adults can signal a specific type of glaucoma. But very often, it seems that the eye color lightens, but this is due to haze in the cornea that can come with aging.
5414 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Alan Mindlin answered
Ophthalmology 50 years experience
Pathological: Other answers can be from chronic inflammation that may be subclinical and destroy iris pigment making it appear lighter. If one is getting darker this can represent tumor enlarging either benign or malignant. This needs to be evaluated by an ophthalmologist.
5412 viewsReviewed Mar 1, 2019

Dr. Alan Jackson answered
Addiction Medicine 30 years experience
No: The color of the eye can change with contact lenses, but physiologically no. It may change gradually with time.
5312 viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Tim Conrad answered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Not much: There are a few eye drops that can darken the eyes, especially if they are hazel in color. There is no known way to lighten the eye color (except for contact lenses).
Rarely, a cancer of the eye, severe inflammatiion or extreme pressure in the eye can cause a change in color.
5312 viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
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Similar questions
A 41-year-old member asked:
What causes peoples eye color to change?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. John Downing answered
Ophthalmology 59 years experience
Eye color: Some children with blue or hazel eyes can have some darkening with variable amounts of brown as they age. If there are similar changes in both eyes, it is usually normal. If one darkens and the other doesn't, that should be checked.
6190 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Can eye color change progressively over time?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Richard Bensinger answered
Ophthalmology 52 years experience
Very little: After the adult color comes in at around age 2, the color is generally very stable from that point on. The color can be altered by certain diseases of the eye interior, a few pharmacologic agents and cornea conditions which mask the iris color. If you think this is happening see your ophthalmologist.
5666 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Can you please explain why some peoples eye color change and some peoples eye color doesn't?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Jodi Luchs answered
LASIK Surgery 30 years experience
No real change...: In general, eye color does not change other than in newborns. However certain eye conditions can give this appearance and should be looked into by an eye doctor. In addition, sometimes hazel colored eyes can give the illusion of looking more blue, green or brown depending on what color clothing surrounds them.
4938 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
CA
A 23-year-old female asked:
What would cause eye color to change and dull at the age of 23?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Jeffrey Juchau answered
Family Medicine 33 years experience
Examination: You need to go see an physician. I can't think of good things that make your eyes change color and become dull.
2802 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Mar 1, 2019
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