How Rare Are Amber Eyes? Facts About This Rare Eye Color

Amber eyes are incredibly rare, with only about 5% of the global population having them, making it the third rarest eye color. Green is the rarest, followed by gray. Interestingly, amber eyes are more common in animals than in humans. They are often called "wolf eyes" due to their golden-yellow hue, which resembles the eyes of wolves. Other animals with this distinctive eye color include cats, owls, dogs, eagles, pigeons, and certain fish.

What Causes Amber Eye Color?

As with all eye colors, amber-colored eyes are mostly determined by genetics and melanin.

Genetics

Scientists once thought that eye color was determined by a single gene, meaning if both parents had brown eyes, their child would too. However, recent research has revealed that up to 16 genes actually play a role in determining eye color. This explains why parents with blue eyes can sometimes have a child with green eyes.

Melanin

Melanin is the pigment responsible for the color of your eyes, skin, and hair, and the amount you have is inherited from your parents.

Two types of melanin affect eye color:

• Eumelanin: This can be black or brown. The more eumelanin you have, the darker your eyes, skin, and hair will be.
• Pheomelanin: Also known as lipochrome, this melanin gives a light reddish-yellow tint.

Amber eyes are most commonly found in regions such as Pakistan, southern France, the Balkans, Italy, Hungary, Spain, and Portugal.

What Color Are Natural Amber Eyes?

Amber eyes have a consistent color that ranges from a vibrant golden shade to a warm yellow-brown tone. Often described as golden brown or light brown, they are distinct from light brown eyes. Unlike light brown eyes, which brighten in sunlight and darken indoors, amber eyes retain their yellow-gold hue regardless of the lighting.

What's The Difference Between Amber Eye and Hazel Eye?

Although amber and hazel eyes may appear similar at times, they are distinct in color. Amber eyes are a solid gold hue without any other shades mixed in. In contrast, hazel eyes often contain flecks of brown, green, blue, and gold, which can give the impression that their color is shifting. The varying tones in hazel eyes can sometimes make them appear to change color depending on the lighting or surroundings.

What's The Difference Between Amber Eye and Brown Eye?

Amber eyes are a lighter variation of brown eyes, but they differ in their pigment composition. While both amber and brown eyes share similar pigments, amber eyes have a higher concentration of pheomelanin, which gives them a lighter, yellow or reddish-orange hue. On the other hand, brown eyes have more eumelanin, the dark pigment responsible for their deeper brown or black tones. While amber eyes could be considered a shade of brown, they are lighter and distinctively have a golden or yellowish tint due to the predominance of pheomelanin.

Which Celebrities Have Amber-Colored Eyes?

If you’ve never seen someone with amber eyes, here are some celebrities who have amber eye color:

• Camilla Luddington

• Darren Criss

• Eliza Dushku

• Florencia Bertotti

• Gonzalo Garcia Vivanco

• Jennifer Garner

• Jennifer Lopez

• Justin Bieber

• Katie Melua

• Nicole Richie

Best Colored Contacts for Getting Amber Eyes

If you've ever wished for amber eyes, you might want to try wearing colored contact lenses. However, remember that your eyes are unique and beautiful, no matter their color. Here are some colored contact lenses that can help you achieve an amber eye look.

ICOICE Iris Brown | 1 Year

ICOICE DNA Taylor Brown Hazel | 1 Year

ICOICE Satellite Brown | 1 Year

Now that you're familiar with amber eyes, their rarity, and how to recognize them, you may be interested in replicating their unique look. Colored contact lenses, especially opaque colored contact lenses, offer you the perfect solution. Not only can you get amber eyes, but you can also experiment with a variety of other eye colors!