Eye color is generally considered a defining characteristic. When asked to describe a person, we often refer to their eye color, as well as their hair color and stature.
This would suggest that eye color is permanent; that it does not change over time. And, indeed, for the most part that is true.
However, there are circumstances in which our eye color can change. In fact, for infants under one year of age, eye color change is actually quite common.
Have you ever met a baby who was born with bright blue eyes, only to see the same baby a year later and find they have deep brown peepers?
You’re probably not the only one. Although not much research has been done into infant eye color change, it is thought to be reasonably common.
In maternity wards, you’ll often hear new parents talking about how their baby was born with blue eyes, but how “that will probably change.”
We do not have a definite answer as to why babies’ eye color changes in the months after birth. However, it may have to do with the quantity of pigment in the eyes.
The main pigment in our eyes is melanin, which offers protection from sun damage in the same way it does in the skin.