Grey Eyes: Facts, Rarity, and Unique Characteristics

What do grey eyes symbolise?

Unlike other common eye colours, grey eye colour has a cool tone, with a mysterious charm and captivating beauty that make it unique, giving the individual a striking appearance. According to the Ancient Greeks, grey eye colour symbolises wisdom. Grey eyes also have an ambiguous, enigmatic aura. They exhibit a spectrum of eye colours, including blue, hazel and green eyes, depending on lighting and environment.

What makes an eye have a grey colour?

The colour of your eyes, skin and hair depends on the amount and distribution of melanin in your body.

Dark eyes (like brown and black) have a high amount of melanin, which is why very little light is reflected. On the other hand, light-coloured eyes (like blue and grey) have low melanin. Dark grey eyes have a little more melanin than pale grey eyes. Apart from these, eye colours such as hazel, green and amber have moderate amounts of melanin.

Nevertheless, scientists are not yet sure about the exact reason behind grey eyes. It is thought that a person’s genes can make someone’s eye colour grey or blue. However, the colour of your eyes also depends on how the light is scattered in the iris.

Scientists also believe that the collagen fibres in grey eyes scatter light, giving them their grey or silvery colour. This is called Rayleigh scattering, which is the same physical principle that gives the sky its blue colour. This is why lighter eyes seem to change colour as per the lighting and environment.

How rare are grey eyes?

Grey is a beautiful eye colour and is very rare. Only about 3% of people worldwide have a natural grey eye colour, making this one of the rarest eye colours globally. However, this estimate is not entirely accurate, as grey eyes are often misidentified as blue eyes. Moreover, grey eye colour can vary in tone and intensity among people. These can include colours like grey-blue, grey-green and dark grey eyes.

Geographically, people born in Northern and Eastern European nations are more likely to have grey eyes than those born in Asia and Africa. In European countries such as Finland, Ireland and Sweden, lighter eye colours (like green and blue) are more common. On the other hand, people born in Asia and Africa have darker skin and eyes due to high melanin levels and greater sun exposure. It’s all part of how our bodies adapt to different levels of sunlight over generations.

How to know if eyes are blue or grey?

People often get confused between blue and grey eyes because there is a limited difference between the two. However, if you look closely, blue eyes and grey eyes are different and can be distinguished. The first eye colour classification scale, which was created in 1843, also shows that these are two different eye colours.

The difference in these two eye colours depends on their intensity and shade. Blue eye colour is more vibrant, with sapphire, royal blue and ocean blue tones. On the other hand, grey eye colour has a smoky appearance, lacking the deep blue hue.

Genetics behind grey eyes

You may think that your eye colour depends entirely on your genetics. However, it’s not that simple.

Earlier, scientists thought that a single primary gene determined the eye colour. Darker eye colours (such as brown eyes) were considered ‘dominant’ and the lighter eye colours (such as green, blue, grey and hazel eyes) were considered ‘recessive’.

For a child to have a light eye colour, both parents must carry the recessive gene. This means that if a child has one dominant gene and one recessive gene, the dominant one will win, and they will have a darker eye colour.

But today, it has been proven that many genes play a role in different forms of melanin and how they function, which help determine eye colour. Grey eye colour is neither dominant nor recessive. Rather, it is a combination of genetic factors affecting melanin production and iris structure.

Best glasses for grey eyes

Due to the versatility of grey eyes, a wide range of frame colours can suit them. Some of the frame colours and patterns recommended for people with grey eyes include:

• Tortoiseshell: Glasses in patterns like marble and tortoiseshell add dimension to your eyes without being too overpowering.
• Warm colours: Earthy shades like brown and black provide a bold contrast to your eyes and can be paired easily with outfits of any colour, making them ideal for everyday wear.
• Cool tones: Cool shades like blue, purple and silver highlight your natural eye colour and add a modern vibe to your overall look.
• Vibrant colours: Colours like green, pink, orange and red can add a bold touch to your look.

Here are some popular frames that may help enhance your grey eye colour:

You can also browse our wide range of prescription glasses, available in different colours, patterns, shapes and styles, to find the perfect pair that complements your grey eye colour.

Disclaimer: The advice and suggestions in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical care. Before trying any products or remedies, consult with an eye care professional. See our Editorial Policy for details on how we review our blog.