Heterochromia
Definition
Heterochromia is the presence of different colored eyes in the same person.
Alternative Names
Differently colored eyes; Eyes - different colorsConsiderations
Heterochromia is uncommon in humans, but quite common in dogs (such as Dalmatians and Australian sheep dogs), cats, and horses.
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 of eye color changes include:
- Bleeding (hemorrhage)
- Familial heterochromia
- Foreign object in the eye
- Glaucoma, or some medications used to treat it
- Injury
- Mild inflammation affecting only one eye
- Neurofibromatosis
- Waardenberg syndrome
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