What is heterocromy? Why, what are the varieties?

What is heterocromy?

Heterocromy is that one of the iris, which is the colorful part of the eye, is of different colors than the other, or that a certain part of a iris is different from the rest. Heterocromy, which has a state of different colors of two iris, is the condition that the two eyes have different colors as a result of genetic mutation. In addition to genetic mutation, heterocromy can also be seen as a result of iris growth or eye injury.

Eye colors in humans have different types of colors from light blue or gray to dark brown. Iris is the colorful part of the eye. Usually both eyes match each other in color.

The iris in one eye can be completely different from the iris in the other eye. This is called full heterocromy. For example, one eye blue may have a brown color. Or one iris may contain two or more different colors. To give an example, a part of a brown eye can be blue. Or a brown eye may have blue pointed ends spreading out of the center.

Many people with heterochrome do not have serious health problems and occurs due to a harmless genetic mutation, and having different colored eyes is a harmless and unique feature. However, some medical conditions may cause heterochrome. These may be growth or eye injury in iris.

Causes heterocromy?

Heterocromy occurs as a result of excess or deficiency of melanin in the eye. This is usually caused by a harmless genetic mutation and is considered hereditary. Apart from this, a growth in iris, eye injury, bleeding, various congenital syndromes, subsequent uveitis swelling or glaucoma can be considered a cause of heterochromy.

The innate factors that cause heterochrome are as follows:

• Benign heterocromy
• HirschSprung Disease
• Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome
• Von recklinghausen disease
• Bourneville Disease
• Waardenburg syndrome
• Sturge-Weber Syndrome
• Parry-Romberg Syndrome
• Horner syndrome

Although these are expressed as innate factors, it has a rare effect. Because heterocromy is usually harmless.

On the other hand, the causes of later acquired heterocromy can be listed as follows:

Heterochromi in infants

Considering that the baby is still developing, the eye color is likely to change naturally. However, if you have a baby who is born with different eye colors, you can consult your ophthalmologist.

What are the types of heterocromy?

Heterocromy is generally classified as full heterocromy, partial heterocromy and central heterocromy. However, there may be several different types of heterocromy.

Full heterocromy

The two eyes of full heterochrome have completely different colors. For example, while one eye is blue, the other eye can be brown.

Partial heterocromy

Partial heterochrome is different from the other part of the color of the iris. So both eyes are not completely different.

Central heterocromy

The central heterochromide is different from the rest of the iris.

On the other hand, acquired heterocromy can be included in these species. Obtained heterochrome, after the baby is born, the eye colors change. All these species of heterochromin are often no problems in the eye structure, but it is also important to consult the ophthalmologist if a different problem is encountered in the eye.

Heterocromy

Heterocromy is usually a harmless eye color change and has no special treatment. However, treatment may be required in heterocromy cases that occur due to a different underlying health problem. For example, Noröblastoma is a condition that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is important to correctly diagnose the factor causing heterochrome.

If your doctor decides that heterochromin is harmless after the examination, no treatment is applied. However, if you want both eyes to be the same color, you can use colorful contact lenses. This is a cosmetic choice that is not medically necessary. It has been completely in its own decision and preference.

Frequently asked questions about heterocromy

Is heterocromy a disease?

Heterocromy is that the person’s two eyes have different colors. It is not accepted as a disease and is a natural formation. The origin of the word comes from Greek. Greek hetero means different, Chroma means color. Heterocromy is referred to as color difference.

Is heterochromy a dangerous condition?

Most cases of heterocromy are sporadic and isolated benign situations that do not have clinical importance. It is usually a harmless condition and occurs as hereditary, but if the change of eye color is dependent on a health problem, treatment may be required after correct diagnosis.

Is heterocromy common seen?

Heterocromy is a rare symptom and has no common frequency of incidence.

Does heterocromy require treatment?

Heterocromy is usually a sign and is not a disease alone. For this reason, there is no special treatment alone for heterocromy. Treatment is determined for the underlying cause, including underlying eye diseases.

If heterocromy is associated with other symptoms of horner syndrome, such as myosis and partial pitosis, the most common cause is congenital horner syndrome that does not require any treatment. On the other hand, congenital or early childhood -onset horner syndrome can be caused by an underlying tumor of the sympathetic chain, especially neuroblastoma requiring diagnosis and treatment.

Heterochromy, which is caused by a Horner syndrome acquired especially in adults, can express a chronic and long -term disease. The underlying cause is the probability that it is a malignancy (malignant tumor).

Does hair have heterocromy?

Hair heterochromy is the condition that some of the hair strands have different colors, but it is rare.

Which doctor can go to heterocromy?

If you have noticed that the eyes have different colors, you can make an appointment with the doctors of the eye diseases department.

What are the rare eye colors?