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Classification of iris colour: review and refinement of a classification schema
Citation
Mackey, DA and Wilkinson, CH and Kearns, LS and Hewitt, AW, Classification of iris colour: review and refinement of a classification schema, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 39, (5) pp. 462-471. ISSN 1442-6404 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.2010.02487.x
Abstract
Eye colour or, more accurately, iris colour is one of the most obvious physical characteristics of a person. European parents frequently ask the colour of their newborn's eyes, only to see the iris change dramatically during their child's first year of life. Genetic and epidemiological findings have uncovered further details about the basis for iris colour, which may have important implications for further research and treatment of some eye diseases and ocular characteristics. Surprisingly there is no widely recognized classification system for eye colour. An added difficulty when trying to devise an international system is that subtle differences in colour description exist between languages (e.g. hazel vs. auburn). We reviewed the recent and very early literature pertaining to eye colour classification. Recent genetic investigations of eye colour have tended to either use simple (three-category grading systems) or more complex digital colour grading. We present a nine-category grading system. Categories in this novel schema include: (i) light blue; (ii) darker blue; (iii) blue with brown peripupillary ring; (iv) green; (v) green with brown iris ring; (vi) peripheral green central brown; (vii) brown with some peripheral green; (viii) brown; and (ix) dark brown. Although different observers may categorize a person's eye colour differently, it is generally only by an adjacent category. We also describe a continuum of iris pigmentation from a small ring of brown around the pupil to almost complete brown with small peripheral flecks. Digital publishing and assessment of iris colour will result in more standardized classification of iris colour and investigation of its role in eye disease.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | albinism, eye colour classification, heterochromia, iris colour, pigmentation |
Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
Research Group: | Ophthalmology and optometry |
Research Field: | Ophthalmology |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Clinical health |
Objective Field: | Clinical health not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Mackey, DA (Professor David Mackey) |
UTAS Author: | Hewitt, AW (Professor Alex Hewitt) |
ID Code: | 77790 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 24 |
Deposited By: | Medicine |
Deposited On: | 2012-05-29 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-07 |
Downloads: | 4 View Download Statistics |
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