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Heterochromia

• Overview

Definition:

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.

Specific causes include:

• Familial heterochromia ( autosomal dominant transmission)
• 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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