The pediatrician explained the reasons for the eye color change in infants

The eye color of newborns may change during the first months of life. The reasons for these changes were explained in the journal Popular Science.

According to Dr. Rebecca Chasnowitz, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina, infants' eyes can darken during the first year, depending on the level of melanin produced by melanocytes, specialized cells in the iris of the eye. This chemical compound determines the intensity of eye color: the more it is, the darker the eyes will be.

Chasnowitz explained that people with blue eyes have minimal melanin levels in the front of the iris, while those with brown eyes have significantly more. Sunlight is also responsible for the process of changing eye color in infants, which stimulates the activity of melanocytes and increases the production of melanin. Such changes can occur due to simple walks in the fresh air.

According to the publication, genetics also plays an important role, although it is difficult to make an accurate prediction of what eye color a child will have. If both parents have brown eyes, then their baby is likely to have brown eyes too. However, in some cases, despite this factor, genetics can lead to unexpected results, and a newborn may inherit a different eye shade from his grandparents.

"If one parent has light eyes and the other has dark eyes, the outcome can be unpredictable," Chasnowitz added.

The results of a small study conducted in 2016 at Stanford Medical School showed that about 63% of newborns had brown eyes, 21% had blue eyes, 6% had brown or green eyes, and the remaining 10% did not have a pronounced eye color.

Note that changes in eye color usually become noticeable by the age of six months, and the process continues until the first birthday. If they become darker, it may be a sign of a normal physiological reaction. However, in rare cases, parents should be wary, for example, if one eye remains blue and the other is dark, which may indicate a genetic disease such as Waardenburg syndrome. In such situations, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

On August 6, Gulnara Orlova, Cardiologist, Director of Insurance Products and Customer Experience at Rosgosstrakh Life Insurance Company, told what can be done for back and eye health. According to her, it is important to properly organize the workplace and get up every 60 minutes to warm up. And to reduce eye strain, use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 steps away for 20 seconds. Adjust the brightness of the monitor and provide good lighting.

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