Introduction
People come across fake news all the time. Nowadays, the internet has become a hub for all this. One such fake news on the internet from 2005 is the presence of "perfect human beings" called Alexandria's Genesis. It all started with the story of a girl named Alexandria, born with purple eyes in Europe around the 13th century, and the two children she gave birth to went on to live for more than 100 years.
These perfect human beings are believed to possess perfectly proportioned bodies that do not gain weight, purple-colored eyes due to some genetic mutation present right from birth or acquired after birth, pale skin, absence of body hair, highly fertile even without monthly menstruation, best immunity, and very little body waste. This is a complete myth, as it cannot be a fact. However, there are few medical conditions recorded that are capable of affecting the color of the eyes. This article will explain the medical conditions causing a change in eye color.
What Is the Origin of Alexandria’s Genesis?
The origin of Alexandria genesis was first noticed by a creative writer called Cameron Aubernon. This writer presented the disease in an animated series on television known by Daria. Aubernon presented about two characters in the story and that they had a genetic mutation called Alexandria’s genesis. This disease exhibited a change in the color of the eyes, which changed from blue to purple by their first birthday. This gave them fair skin and dark brown hair. According to an old myth, in 1329, an English couple observed that their daughter’s eyes were changing from a blue tint to a violet shade. The name of the girl with this change was Alexandria Augustine.
The parents consulted a priest, thinking that a witch had cursed their daughter. The priest assured the parents that their daughter was in good health but affected by a special disease that usually occurs among a certain race of people in ancient Egypt.
The myth went on to explain that the group of people from Egypt were thought to be spirits. It was thought that these people appeared when the light flashed in the sky in the night when the moon was not visible. These thought to be spirits had superhuman qualities and physical features when they were around. They were found to have disappeared at some point in time. They were never found again.
In 2011, Aubernon noticed that people discussed Alexandria’s genesis on the internet. Aubernon came forward to explain that the condition is as fictional as that of the story. Though Aubernon said this disease is fake, some people claim to have this disease or know persons who have this condition.
What Are the Conditions That Affect Eye Color?
People suffering from certain medical conditions can have different colored eyes.
The medical conditions are:
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Pigmentary glaucoma - It is a condition in which pigmentation occurs behind the iris of the eyes.
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Albinism - It is an inherited condition in which the affected person has light skin, hair, and eyes.
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Heterochromia iridis - A condition in which the colored part of the eye (iris is multicolored.
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Fuch’s heterochromic uveitis - It is a chronic form of uveitis exhibiting mild inflammation in one eye.
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Horner’s syndrome - A neurological condition affecting the eye and one side of the face.
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Age-related changes - Physiological changes occur in all the parts of the body.
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Tumor of the iris - Tumors occur in and behind the iris and can spread to other parts.
What Is Pigmentary Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by damage to the optic nerve due to high intraocular pressure, which is essential for clear vision. The pressure of the eye increases when the aqueous humor (fluid) of the eye does not drain properly. Glaucoma can result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma is the common cause of blindness in the older population. In the case of pigmentary glaucoma, the pigment of the iris part of the eye sheds as tiny granules. It obstructs the fluid drainage of the eyes, resulting in increased intraocular pressure. The shedding of the pigment will cause changes in the color of the iris and not the complete eyes. Treatment for pigmentary glaucoma includes eye drops, pupil constrictors, and laser surgery.
What Is Albinism?
Melanin produced by melanocytes is the pigment responsible for skin color, hair, and eyes. If melanin production is obstructed, it results in a condition called albinism. Albinism affecting the eyes is called ocular albinism. In the case of ocular albinism, the eyes appear red or violet. It can also cause several eye problems like lazy eye, also known as strabismus, nystagmus, sensitivity to light, and decreased visual acuity (because pigment plays a major role in producing accurate vision)
What Is Heterochromia Iridis?
Heterochromia iridis is a condition characterized by different-colored eyes and is rarely seen among humans. The iris of the eye may also present with different colors. Most heterochromia iridis cases are not caused by any medical conditions and are passed on from a parent or caused by certain factors during eye formation. However, in rare cases, an underlying condition can cause heterochromia iridis. A few underlying medical conditions are piebaldism (autosomal dominant affecting melanocyte migration), Hirschsprung disease (a condition affecting large intestine resulting in difficulty in passing stools), Bournville disease (autosomal dominant showing hamartomatous growths in many organs), Horner's syndrome (neurological disorder affecting the eye and one side of the face), and Von Recklinghausen disease (genetic disorder exhibiting growth of tumors on the nerves). They are of three types, namely, segmental, central, and complete.
Fuch’s Heterochromic Uveitis
The cause of this disease is not known clearly. However, a few believe it is caused by inflammation of the eyes, especially the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. Due to the inflammation, the iris tends to lose color and become light, occurring as a different color altogether. Fuchs heterochromic uveitis also presents with decreased vision and floaters in the path of vision. If left untreated, it can cause complications like glaucoma, cataracts, and iris atrophy. This condition generally does not need any medical treatment, but if cataracts are formed, appropriate treatment is necessary.
What Is Horner's Syndrome?
This syndrome affects one part of the face along with the eyes. It is caused due to the obstruction of a nerve from the brain supplying the head and neck. Horner’s syndrome is characterized by drooping eyelids, the smaller size of the pupil, sunken eyes, and decreased sweating on the affected side of the face. The decrease in the pupil size of one eye, compared to the normal one, will look at a different eye color. It tends to affect both children and adults. The disruption of nerves can occur due to a stroke or spinal cord injury.
Age-Related Changes
A newborn child commonly possesses brown-colored eyes. The colored part of the eyes is called the iris. Few children of the caucasian race are born with blue and gray eyes. As a child grows, it depends on exposure to sunlight. More melanin from melanocytes will be produced, and thus, the color of the eye intensifies. For example, brown eyes will intensify, and the gray or blue eyes will become green or hazel.
Tumor of the Iris
The tumor can grow on the iris or at the back of the iris. It rarely grows cancerous, and it is mostly cysts or nevi. It does not show any signs and symptoms and is only noticed when the color of the eyes changes. It is always better to consult a doctor to rule out a tumor. Signs like increasing pupil size or growth interfering with the pupil are to be considered when consulting a doctor. In the case of a tumor, management will involve radiation and surgery.
Medications
Yes, certain eye medications can change eye color. As a treatment protocol, prostaglandin-based eye drops are usually prescribed for glaucoma patients. Both naturally occurring prostaglandins and prostaglandin analogs like Latanoprost and Bimatoprost are capable of changing eye color.
When to See a Doctor?
When the color of the eyes changes, immediate consultation is to be done with the concerned eye doctor. Any changes observed in the eyes indicate an underlying medical condition. Sudden changes in the eyes, like blurring, or black floating spots if noticed, must consult an ophthalmologist.
Conclusion
This explains purple-colored eyes, Alexandria's genesis, and perfect human beings, which are just myths and just another internet rumor. However, eye color changes due to any of the above-mentioned conditions have to be treated as soon as possible, except for a few benign ones.
