Heterochromia iridis

I had a cat years back which had eyes with two different eye colors, one gray and one blue. The vet told me the condition was called Heterochromia iridis or Heterochromia iridum . Later after googling for this condition, I found out that it is not only restricted to cats and dogs but also found in humans.

Heterochromia is a medical condition when a difference in coloration is present in the eyes, hair or the skin. It is caused by the excess or lack of melanin,which is primary for body coloration. It can be genetic, inherited or due to some disease or injury.

Heterochromia iridis is a special condition when the color of the iris varies in an individual. It can be


1) Complete- when one iris is of a different color from the other.

 I don't have a snap of my cat but it looked some what like this,except that its right eye was gray and not green. Looked really creepy at night.

This picture clearly shows that the two eyes have two very different colors, the left iris blue and the right brown.

 

The Friends with Benefits star, Mila Kunis has complete Heterochromia iridis, one eye brown and the other greenish hazel. Click on the images to have a closer look.

2) Partial or Sectoral - Where two different colors are present in the same iris.

This picture clearly shows how the same iris has two different colors, brown and greenish gray.

These are Kate Bosworth's eyes. She has partial Heterochromia iridis, her left eye is partially brown.

There is a special case in this category called Central heterochromia where the two irises are of the same color but the central region is of a different color from the peripheral zone. This is probably the most common  form of Heterochromia iridis in humans.

Clearly visible,this eye had a brownish coloration in the center whereas the rest of the iris is green.

Have you known anyone who had or has this condition??

All images are taken from the internet and information is partially taken from wikipedia.