Heterochromia

A power point on Heterochromia.

1. HETEROCHROMIA A colorful way to see the world. By Dwight Anders ENC 3241

2. What is Heterochromia? Heterochromia is when pupil color in the eyes can vary either between the two irises or in cases of sectoral and central Heterochromia, an eye can have one iris with multiple colors. It is a most artistically intriguing mutation of the human DNA strand and has been the focus of many artistic designs in recent history.

3. Sectoral & Central Heterochromia VS. Full Heterochromia Sectoral & Central Central Heterochromia is the most common form of Heterochromia where (usually) the center of the eye will have a different color then the rest of the surrounding Iris. Sectoral Heterochromia is the least common; and in this case a very unique change happens to the Iris where a section of the iris, much like a slice of pie, has a different color. Full Full Heterochromia is much more common then Sectoral Heterochromia though less often seen in comparison to Central Heterochromia. This strand of Heterochromia is most obvious in appearance as one Iris will have a change of color from the other.

4. Examples of variations in Heterochromia This is an example of Full Heterochromia. Notice the vivid difference of color between the two eyes. Sectoral Heterochromia as can be observed is a distinct change of color in the Iris. Central Heterochromia is a fading of one color into another from the inner to outer edges of the Iris in one eye.

5. Causes of Heterochromia There is a variation of ways Heterochromia can be acquired. The most direct way is to acquire it genetically. Four diseases that have also been identified as having an association with Heterochromia are Horner’s Syndrome, Waardenburg Syndrome and Piebald Syndrome and of course Cancer. Horner’s Syndrome has been known to affect the nervous system, which can be the cause of Sectoral Heterochromia when sympathetic nerves in the eyes can leave a slight portion of the eye pigment free (resulting in a blue color.) Waardenburg Syndrome affects the epidermal layer with respect to pigmentation and is not really associated with any specific type of H eterochromia. Piebald Syndrome is much the same way. It is rare and highly improbable that Heterochromia be contracted in other ways though a few cases have been shown where a bleaching of the eyes can cause a dramatic color change via intense light.

6. Safety risks? There is no known safety hazards of having Heterochromia. The discoloration or pigment levels in the eyes affected have shown to have no foreseeable weakness to sun, or light of any kind and have no affect to everyday life. The only concern involved at all regarding Heterochromia is in the way in which it was acquired I.e. a virus, traumatic injury to the eyes or face and newborn birth complications.

7. Facts on Heterochromia Heterochromia in all forms has always been interesting to view. Typically those affected with it have so many variances of the same forms that it is rare to find two exactly the same. An uncommon occurrence when some one has H eterochromia is to find multiple forms in the same person. It is possible to have both Full and Central or Central and Sectoral Heterochromia and any variation produces an interesting array of designs and colors. Perhaps one of the most interesting facts on this intriguing mutation is that it is not limited to simply humans. Many animals like horses, cats, dogs, bears and other mammals have been known to have it before all with the same classifications but each with their own variations to pattern and color.

8. In Summary Heterochromia is a rare and beautiful mutation that mammals are subject to. It has no health concerns that are caused from it but can sometimes be the aftermath of something affecting the body like a disease or a traumatic incident. It can come in many different ways and yet still be so similar amongst all effected by it.

9. Sources: All images are tagged with sources as hyperlinks during presentation. "Heterochromia (Eyes of different colors)." . N.p .. Web. 7 Apr 2013. http :// www.bios.niu.edu/johns/diff_eye.htm "What Is Heterochromia Iridum ?."  wiseGEEK . wiseGEEK . Web. 7 Apr 2013. http :// www.wisegeek.com/what-is-heterochromia-iridum.htm "Heterochromia."  MedicinePlus . U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 Mar 2013. Web. 7 Apr 2013. http :// www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003319.htm "Exactly how rare is central heterochromia ."  WikiAnswers . N.p ., 22 Jan 2011. Web. 7 Apr 2013. http :// wiki.answers.com/Q/Exactly_how_rare_is_central_heterochromia