What is the Most Attractive Eye Color? - Blue Planet Optics

Eye color has always fascinated people. Whether you’ve wondered which color is the “prettiest” or just admired someone else’s eyes, there’s no denying how important and beautiful eyes are.

Beauty is subjective, but research has actually looked into different eye colors and their beauty, and some of the findings might surprise you.

Let’s dive into what studies say about eye color and attraction, and which shades tend to turn the most heads, both for men and women.

What Determines Eye Color?

Before we talk about what’s most attractive, let’s look at what gives your eyes their color in the first place.

Genetics

You may have learned that eye color comes from your parents, but it’s a little more complex than that. Scientists used to think it was controlled by just one gene. Now, they know up to 16 genes play a role.

That’s why parents with blue eyes can have a brown-eyed child, or vice versa. Every person’s eyes are unique in shade, tone, and even the way they reflect light.

Melanin

Melanin is the pigment responsible for coloring our eyes, skin, and hair. The more melanin you have, the darker your eye color will be. Less melanin means lighter hues.

This mix of genetics and melanin levels is what creates the full spectrum from rich browns to icy blues.

Hazel Is Considered the Most Attractive Eye Color in Females

Studies show hazel eyes often top the list when it comes to female attractiveness. The rare combination of brown and green catches attention because it can appear to change shades in different lighting.

One dating app study found these results among female profiles:

Since hazel eyes have a mix of gold, green, and brown, they stand out and are quite captivating.

Blue Is Considered the Most Attractive Eye Color in Males

For men, blue eyes are seen as the most attractive. Blue eyes are often associated with youthfulness and charm. Their rarity also helps make them a popular choice in attraction surveys.

Here’s how the numbers stacked up for male profiles:

Blue eyes earned more than a quarter of the total matches, making them the clear favorite.

What Is the Most Attractive Eye Color Overall?

When researchers combined results across genders, green eyes came out on top as the most universally attractive eye color. A global survey of 66,000 people revealed:

• Green: 20.3%
• Light blue: 16.9%
• Hazel: 16.0%
• Dark blue: 15.2%
• Gray: 10.9%
• Honey: 7.9%
• Amethyst: 6.9%
• Brown: 5.9%

Only 2% of the global population has green eyes, making them one of the rarest eye colors. That rarity might explain their appeal.

Of course, beauty standards vary. Cultural and individual differences, eye shape, and even expressions all play a part in personal preferences. For instance, South Americans seem to prefer brown eyes, whereas people from Kazakhstan prefer green eyes.

What Is the Healthiest Eye Color?

Attractiveness is subjective, and even putting that aside, what’s most important is to know if eye color affects eye health. Though, it’s also important to note that all eye colors need protection from UV rays.

Breaking it down, eye color can impact health, but only slightly. For example:

Brown eyes: Due to higher melanin levels, darker eyes may have slightly better protection against UV rays and cataracts.

Blue eyes: They may be more light-sensitive, but they have better night vision.

Green eyes: They sit in the middle and have balance between UV protection and better night vision.

Can You Change Your Eye Color?

If you’re curious about experimenting, there are safe and not-so-safe ways to try new eye colors. That said, always talk with an eye care professional before making any changes. Some ways to go about it are:

Colored contact lenses: The safest, easiest way to experiment temporarily.

Laser eye color change: This is a permanent but risky and controversial procedure.

Iris implant surgery: This is another permanent option, but it is relatively new and has potentially serious side effects.

Beauty Lies in the Eye of the Beholder

At the end of the day, every eye color has its own kind of beauty. Whether your eyes are deep brown, bright blue, or a rare shade of green, they’re uniquely yours.

If you’re interested in trying out a new look safely, check out the Blue Planet Optics online store for a wide variety of high-quality colored contact lenses.

For more tips on eye health and vision care, visit the Blue Planet Optics blog!

Published: August 14, 2024

Edited: November 2, 2025 by Raven DeCosmo