Heterochromia is the presence of different colored eyes in the same person.
Alternative Names:
Differently colored eyes; Eyes - different colors
Considerations:
Heterochromia is uncommon in humans, but quite common in dogs (such as Dalmatians and Australian sheep dogs), cats, and horses.
Common Causes:
Most cases of heterochromia are hereditary, caused by a disease or syndrome, or due to an injury. Sometimes one eye may change color following certain diseases or injuries.
Waardenberg syndrome (congenital and autosomal dominant)
Some medications used to treat glaucoma may cause the iris (colored part of the eye) to darken
Neurofibromatosis (may cause the affected iris to darken)
Injury, hemorrhage (bleeding), glaucoma, or foreign body in the eye
Review Date: 2/9/2006
Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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