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Heterochromia



Heterochromia
Heterochromia


Heterochromia

Definition:

Heterochromia is the presence of different colored eyes in the same person.


Alternative Names:
Differently colored eyes; Eyes - different colors
Considerations:

Heterochromia isuncommon in humans, butquite common in dogs (such as Dalmatians and Australian sheep dogs), cats, and horses.


Common Causes:

Most cases of heterochromia are hereditary, caused by a disease or syndrome, or due to an injury. Sometimes one eye may change color following certain diseases or injuries.

Specific causes include:

  • Familial heterochromia (autosomal dominant transmission)
  • Waardenberg syndrome (congenital and autosomal dominant)
  • Some medications used to treat glaucoma may cause the iris (colored part of the eye) to darken
  • Neurofibromatosis (may cause the affected iris to darken)
  • Injury, hemorrhage (bleeding), glaucoma, or foreign body in the eye



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