Different Colored Eyes Day

Different Colored Eyes Day celebrates heterochromia iridum—also known as heterochromia iridis or simply heterochromia. This rare condition causes a noticeable difference in the color of a person’s irises. Sometimes one eye is a completely different color from the other, and sometimes just part of one iris is a different color. Either way, it’s fascinating!

This day also celebrates the full spectrum of eye colors—from the most common brown to the rarest green. Whether you have heterochromia or not, it’s a fun reminder of how unique our eyes really are.

History

Different Colored Eyes Day was founded by Jean Quinn of B Able Incorporated. No one knows exactly when she came up with the idea, but the holiday quickly found support. In the past, people with different eye colors were sometimes seen as magical or even cursed. In some cultures, heterochromia was linked to supernatural powers. Today, it’s mostly admired and seen as a beautiful rarity.

Interesting Facts

• Less than 1% of the global population has heterochromia.
• Famous people with different-colored eyes include Alexander the Great, Mila Kunis, Kate Bosworth, and Christopher Walken.
• Brown is the most common eye color in the world—over 55% of people have it.
• Green is the rarest natural eye color, seen in only about 1–2% of the population.
• Some people with albinism can appear to have red, pink, or violet eyes.

Eye-Themed Jokes

• How do you know carrots are good for your eyes? Have you ever seen a rabbit with glasses?
• What happened to the optician who fell into the lens grinder? He made a spectacle of himself.
• I have an eye, but I can’t see. What am I? A needle.
• A nurse tells the doctor, “There’s a man with a glass eye named Brown in the waiting room.” The doctor says, “What does he call his other eye?”

Pick-Up Lines Inspired by Eyes

• Your eyes are bluer than the Atlantic, and I’m lost at sea.
• I think you’ve got something in your eye… oh wait, it’s just a sparkle.
• There are many fish in the sea, but you’re the only one that caught my eye.

Quotes About Eyes

• “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
• “The eye of a human being is a microscope, which makes the world seem bigger than it really is.” — Khalil Gibran
• “Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing.” — Bill Cosby
• “Why does the eye see a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination when awake?” — Leonardo da Vinci

Different Colored Eyes Day is part of July celebrations, which also include National Anti-Boredom Month, National Blueberry Month, National Ice Cream Month, and more.

When is Different Colored Eyes Day in 2025?

Different Colored Eyes Day is observed on July 12 each year.

Observations