Health Information

Heterochromia: A Beautiful Anomaly

This photo was featured on www.reddit.com where people appeared to be curious about the condition of the pictured woman’s iris.  A Reddit user called it “heterochromia iridum” and said “I have a form of that where most of my inner iris is green but there’s a small ring of blue encompassing it.”

Heterochromia iridis/iridum is a condition characterized by abnormalities of the iris (the colored part of the eye). In people affected by complete heterochromia, the iris of one eye is a different color than the iris of the other eye. Sectoral, or, partial heterochromia occurs when areas of the same iris are different in color. The condition is fairly rare and is not associated with any other significant symptoms or problems – except being especially captivating to look at and very unique!

How Sickle Cell Anemia Can Affect the Eyes

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder caused by an inherited genetic mutation. People with sickle cell develop crescent-shaped red blood cells, resembling a scythe or sickle, when there is reduced oxygen levels. These sickled red blood cells become stiff and do not flow easily through small blood vessels. When the sickle cells block blood flow through the body, extreme pain occurs, due to tissues not receiving enough blood.

Ocular Melanoma – What is it?

Ocular melanoma, or “OM” for short, is the most common eye cancer found in adults. It is diagnosed in about 2,500 adults every year in the United States, making it also one of the rarest forms of eye cancer. It occurs when eye pigment cells’ DNA is mutated causing them to multiply out of control and collect within the eye.

It is not clear why eye melanomas develop. We do know that people born with certain growths in or on the eye, as well as those with lighter colored eyes, are at a greater risk for developing ocular melanoma. Some other causes may be increased by exposure to sunlight or artificial sunlight (tanning beds), having certain inherited skin conditions, or simply older age.