We have noticed that when babies are born the iris in their eyes are always black, or at least very dark. After a few days/weeks the color of the iris changes to the color that the baby will always have. Is this an accurate observation? What causes this event?
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Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D. (xx102@ofcn.org)
In fact, most babies are born with iridies that are a slate gray to blue color. This is because the pigment cells that determine the color of the iris are not fully developed at birth. It takes as long as a year for the pigment cells to acculumate and eye color to mature.
If it appears as though the iris is black, it is probably because the infants' pupils are large enough to obscure your view of the iris. In general, pupil size varies with age. Children's pupils are relatively large and then decrease in size with maturity.
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Copyright, 1994. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
A RICHARD E. GANS, M.D. 11
A A OFCN Primary Sysop, The Eye Clinic 111
AAAAA xx102@ofcn.org 11
A A A C A D E M Y O N E 1111
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