Are Purple Eyes Real? Facts and Fiction Around Violet Eyes

Purple eyes may sound like something dreamed up for a fantasy character, but they really do exist. They’re extremely rare and beautiful — and usually more of a light violet color than deep purple.

Purple eyes are so rare, in fact, that only about one percent of the population has them. To learn how people are born with purple eyes and how you can easily fake purple eyes if you choose, read on. The Pair Eyewear experts are here to explain how to change the colored part of the eye to suit your tastes.

Where Does Eye Color Come From?

All human eye colors depend on the amount of melanin the irises contain. This brown pigment is produced by cells called melanocytes, and it’s found in several parts of your body, including your eyes.

If you have plenty of melanin in your irises, you’ll likely end up with brown eyes — and because melanin absorbs light, the more you have, the darker your eyes will be. With a lot of melanin, it may even look like you have black eyes.

Because melanin protects a person’s eyes from the sun, the darker your eyes, the less likely you are to develop eye diseases. Sun damage is a contributor to eye conditions like ocular melanoma and cataracts.

Less melanin equals less brown pigmentation and a higher chance you’ll have blue eyes. Blue eyes are more common among Caucasians, but that doesn’t mean people of color can’t have blue eyes — it’s just more rare.

Other color variants like green eyes, hazel eyes, gray eyes, and amber eyes are the result of varying amounts and distributions of pigment, combined with reflected blue light.

Let’s dive in and discover what causes purple eyes, how a lack of melanin plays a major role, and whether or not you can fake having purple eyes if you’d like. We’ll also talk about how to style purple eyes with iconic glasses you can only find at Pair Eyewear.

So What Causes Purple Eye Color?

Purple eyes sit on the extreme end of this scale.

Only a tiny percentage of the world’s population has purple eyes (less than one percent), making it one of the rarest eye colors.

Albinism, a hereditary genetic disorder that causes the body to produce no melanin, can create the illusion of purple eyes. Sometimes, albino eyes may also appear red.

The color of the person’s eyes is not actually purple or red, but because lighting reflects off the blood vessels in the eyes, making them appear this color. Normally, people with albinism have blue eyes.

What Else Can Cause Unusual Eye Colors?

While purple eyes are very rare, there are also other reasons people may have unusual eye colors.

For example, some people have different colored eyes — often one blue and one brown — due to differing amounts of pigment in each eye. This is known as heterochromia iridis.

Heterochromia can also be the result of a medical condition known as Waardenburg syndrome, which affects the pigmentation of your eyes, hair, and skin.

And if you have an eye condition like uveitis — or inflammation of the eye — your eyes may look reddish.

Important Note: Changes in eye color can indicate a problem with your eye health. It’s best to head to your eye doctor and have your eye color change reviewed to make sure that your eyes are healthy.

Myths Around Purple Eyes

Perhaps because they’re so unusual and have a mystical look to them, purple eyes have given rise to a couple of different myths. There are legends that suggest people with purple eyes are limited in number worldwide to about 600 individuals.

Elizabeth Taylor’s Eyes

For those too young to remember, Elizabeth Taylor was a beautiful movie star. In her heyday from the 1950s to the 1970s — long before colored contact lenses were available — she was famous for her supposedly violet eyes. Taylor’s eyes were actually very dark blue, but with clever makeup and accessories, she was able to convince the world her eyes were violet.

Alexandria’s Genesis

Another myth around purple eyes is a condition called Alexandria’s Genesis — or Alexandria’s Syndrome. The story first appeared online in 2005 that a woman named Alexandria, born in 1329, had a genetic mutation that gave her purple eyes. She had two children, also with purple eyes. All three of them supposedly lived extremely long and healthy lives and were believed to be genetically perfect.

Alexandria’s Genesis is nothing more than an internet myth and has no scientific proof behind it, but it’s often thrown around in the purple eyes discussion.

How To Fake Purple Eyes

If you want the breathtaking appeal of purple eyes but weren’t born with that set of genes, you can fake it with colored contact lenses. Colored contact lenses can change the colored part of the eye to make it look like you have natural purple eyes. Colored contact lenses can change your eye color, help correct your vision (if you have a prescription), and even help you keep track of your contact lenses if you tend to lose them.

The Best Eyeglasses for Purple Eyes

If you have purple eyes, you’ll want to showcase them with the right pair of glasses.

In that case, your first stop should be Pair Eyewear. With a range of beautifully designed Base Frames plus the ability to change your look in an instant by adding a magnetic Top Frame, you’re sure to find something that works for you.

If you have purple eyes, there’s a high chance your eyes are also sensitive to light. Pick out some Sun Tops that snap right onto your glasses magnetically, so you don’t need to carry around a separate pair of sunnies.

Start by choosing the Base Frame that best suits your face. You can check our Size Guide to find options for your face size, then use our Virtual Try-On feature to experiment with different styles. You simply need to give Pair access to your camera to see how you look wearing different frame shapes and colors.

When it comes to color, why not take a leaf from Elizabeth Taylor’s book and use clever colors to highlight your purple eyes?

For example:

If you want to wear your Base Frames on their own, you could go for plain black to frame your eyes or Crystal Clear so your glasses disappear, making your eyes the main feature. Or you could choose Pink Clear or Blue Clear to pick up those tones in your eyes.

Then, if you fancy a little variation from day to day, why not pick a pair (or two) of Top Frames? Choose a blue, pink, or purple pair to tone with your eyes or a frame in complementary colors like green or yellow. Try one of these gorgeous designs to help your purple eyes shine:

• The Peacock Ombre from the Premium Collection
• The Blush, The Navy, or The Purple from the Classic Colors range
• The Slate Dip Dye, The Ocean Blue, or The Galaxy from the Classic Designs range
• The Bloom Split or The Metamorphosis from the Frida Kahlo range
• The Lavender Sparkle or The Mint Sparkle from the Sparkle range
• The Kings Splatter or The Lakers Splatter from the NBA range

Magical Purple Eyes Are Real and Beautiful

Purple eyes are very real — and extremely rare. They usually occur in people with albinism, who have very little melanin in their eyes. The combination of pink from visible blood vessels and reflected blue light creates a beautiful violet color.

If you’re a person with purple eyes, wearing eyeglasses that compliment them and pull out your beautiful violet hues is a must.

Pick yours online from Pair Eyewear today and take advantage of the extra versatility you get from a combination of Base Frames and Top Frames. Starting at just $60, you can’t go wrong. After all, those gorgeous purple eyes deserve the best frames you can get.