Eye color is typically determined by your genetics and the melanin level in your eyes. However, for purple eyes, there’s often another cause: albinism.
Melanin in Eyes
Your eye color is primarily determined by the concentration of melanin in your eyes. The melanin in the eye determines how much light enters the eye and is reflected out.
Darker eyes will absorb more light and reflect less light. Lighter-colored eyes will reflect more light and absorb less light. This is what gives eyes their color.
People with lighter eyes, like blue or purple eyes, have less melanin in their irises than those with darker eyes. This reduced pigmentation allows more light to scatter, resulting in a paler appearance.
Genetics also plays a role in determining how much melanin is in your eyes. Key genes like OCA2 and HERC2 are large players in controlling melanin levels.
Albinism
Man With Albinism
Albinism is one of the main causes of purple eyes. Albinism is a genetic condition that affects the amount of melanin the body produces, including in the eyes. People with this condition typically have pale skin, eyes, and hair. In the U.S., about one in 18,000 to 20,000 people has albinism.
Some people with albinism appear to have purple eyes. Since they have so little melanin, light reflects off the red blood vessels in the eyes. This mixes with the blue-ish light scattered by the iris, which creates a violet or purple hue.
Natural purple eyes are truly rare; less than 1% of people in the world have this eye color. It’s hard to pin down exact numbers since there aren’t many large-scale studies on eye color. But since albinism itself is rare, and only a small percentage of people with albinism have purple eyes, it’s clear that purple eyes are incredibly uncommon.
Purple Eye Health Risks
There are some health risks that come along with purple eyes. Similar to blue eyes, people with purple eyes may be more sensitive to light. To protect their eyes, people with purple eyes should wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection while out and about.
People with albinism also sometimes experience vision problems due to the lack of melanin in their eyes. They may experience nystagmus, which is a rapid, back-and-forth movement of the eyes that cannot be controlled. They might also experience photophobia, which is extreme sensitivity to bright light. In addition, they could have myopia or hyperopia, poor depth perception, or astigmatism.
Purple Eyes Out in the World
A Redditor named Sorranne went viral when he shared his purple eyes. Sorranne simply titled his thread, “I have purple eyes,” and he shared a close-up photo:
Purple Eyes on Reddit
Many Redditors asked Sorranne questions about his eyes. One Redditor asked if Sorranne has trouble with his vision:
“Do people with albinism have a problem with near vision? I’m asking because I have a professor with albinism who can read stuff on the projector without a problem when he takes a lecture but he has a huge monitor in his cabin to see stuff from his laptop better.”
Sorranne answered:
“Near and far vision are a problem. But it also depends on the size of the font, on a projector it’s easier only if we are not too far away.”
Sorranne’s ‘ask me anything’ post got more than 2,000 comments! And so, it’s clear that people are fascinated with purple eyes.
Celebrities and Fictional Characters With Purple Eyes
Elizabeth Taylor was famously said to have ‘violet eyes.’ However, her eyes were really more of a deep blue that appeared violet due to low melanin levels, specific lighting, and a genetic mutation called distichiasis that gave her double eyelashes. She also strategically used dark brown, blue, or purple eyeshadow to make her eyes look more violet.
There aren’t any celebrities who have true purple eyes. There are some fictional characters with this rare eye color, though. This includes:
The Targaryens in Game of Thrones Books
In the Game of Thrones books, the Targaryens are described as having platinum blond or silver hair and purple eyes. This is due to their “Old Valyrian” blood.
Violet Parr in The Incredibles
The shapeshifting superhero in the Pixar movie has blue-violet eyes, which match her name. Many people cosplaying as Violet choose to wear purple contact lenses.
Megara in Hercules
The wisecracking heroine of Hercules has distinct purple eyes. They were originally going to be blue. During production, though, the creators decided to make them purple to give her a unique look.
Judy Hopps in Zootopia
Judy Hopps, the main character in Zootopia, is a rabbit with large, expressive purple eyes. The animators chose to give her purple eyes to contrast with her gray fur. They also felt that this eye color highlighted her optimistic spirit.
Purple Colored Contact Lenses
Woman Wears Purple Contacts
Want to try out purple eyes? Use colored contacts! There are a few different brands that offer purple shades. Remember that you’ll need to get a prescription from your eye doctor to buy colored contacts.
Here are a couple of brands to check out.
AIR OPTIX COLORS
Box of AIR OPTIX COLORS
AIR OPTIX COLORS are monthly contact lenses manufactured by Alcon, and they have 12 different shades. This includes an amethyst that’s perfect for those looking for purple eyes.
EZContacts customer Amanda L. shared a photo wearing the amethyst contacts. She said she loved them:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Fast and I love my eyes!!!”
Solotica
Solotica is a Brazilian brand that sells bright, opaque colored contacts. They also sell colored contacts for astigmatism, which are difficult to find. They have a lavender shade that will give you light purple eyes. Just keep in mind that if you’re ordering from the U.S., it could take weeks for these contacts to get to you.
Enhancing Your Purple Colored Contacts
Once you have your contacts in, make your eyes pop by using strategic makeup. Create contrast by using bronze, gold, copper, or soft pink eyeshadow. Or, follow Elizabeth Taylor’s lead and use blue, brown, or purple eyeshadow for a harmonious look.
Black eyeliner will also make your eyes seem brighter. Or, you could go for a metallic eyeliner to add dimension to your eyes.
Remember to insert your contacts before applying makeup. Then, remove your contacts before you take off your makeup. This will help reduce the risk of irritation and infection. Also, always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before you put your contacts in.
TL;DR
Purple eyes are incredibly rare, but they do exist. Less than 1% of the population has this eye color.
Eye color is determined by the amount of melanin in the eye. Since purple eyes are lighter, they have less melanin.
Albinism is also one of the main causes of purple eyes. Because people with albinism have very little melanin, their eyes can appear purple.
A Redditor named Sorranne went viral when he shared his purple eyes on Reddit.
Elizabeth Taylor was famously said to have ‘violet eyes,’ but her eyes were really more a dark blue that appeared violet due to specific lighting and clever makeup.
Some fictional characters that have purple eyes include the Targaryens in Game of Thrones, Violet Parr from The Incredibles, Megara in Hercules, and Judy Hopp in Zootopia.
There are purple colored contacts available. This includes AIR OPTIX COLORS’ amethyst shade and Solotica’s lavender shade.
I’m a Florida-based lifestyle and content creator who writes about the latest in eyewear, from smart lenses to sustainable frames. I have a Bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Edinburgh. I’ve previously worked for Gemini Literary Magazine, Featured, Brainfall, Shareably, and The Feed. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me exploring museums, hiking new trails, or soaking up the sun at the beach (always with great sunglasses, of course).
