Why Are Babies Born With Blue Or Gray Eyes?

Babies are usually born with blue or gray eyes, but the color of the eyes at birth may not be permanent. Eye color usually stabilizes by the first birthday, but in some children the change takes up to years.

Why are babies born with blue or gray eyes?

The iris of the eye gets its color from melanin. In many newborns, melanin production has not yet properly started, and when there is little of this dye in the iris, the cells mainly reflect the blue wavelengths of light. If the cells are rich in melanin, the iris is brown. This means that there is no blue pigment in the eye, but the color of the eye is determined by the amount of brown melanin.

The baby lives in the womb in the dark, which is why the production of melanin in his eyes does not start before birth. In the same way that human skin darkens in the sun, light triggers the production of melanin in the iris. The final color of a person’s eyes depends on how much melanin a person has inherited from their parents.

When does a baby’s eyes reach their final color?

The moment when a baby’s final eye color is determined cannot be accurately predicted. It is an individual process – in much the same way as hair growth – that takes place differently for each child.

The baby’s eyes may reach their final color as early as five months of age, but in some children the process continues for up to three years. Usually, the color of the eyes becomes permanent when the baby is 6-9 months old. It all depends on how the child’s cells develop.

Caring for the eyes of a newborn child

Newborns are very fragile and prone to inflammation, as their resistance has not yet been fully developed. Sensitive eyes are also at risk, but fortunately inflammation can be prevented with certain precautions. It is recommended that the eyes of the newborn be cleaned daily with a face wash and otherwise as needed.

Removal of eye lumps

The baby’s eyes may excrete a lot of tear fluid, which can accumulate as a lumpy secretion in the inner corner of the eyes and lashes. The symptom is easy to confuse with eye inflammation, but if the eye does not redness and the eyelids are not swollen, it is usually a matter of eye leakage caused by narrow tear ducts. For most children, the problem goes away on its own with age.

You should clean your eyes with a cotton ball or soft cloth dipped in warm water, wiping from the outer corner to the inner corner. If one eye grumbles heavily, clean the clean eye first, or alternatively use your own cotton swab and cloth for both eyes.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye is a very common ailment in children that can develop into the eyes of even a small baby. Conjunctivitis is, as the name implies, an inflammatory condition of the membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eye, i.e. the conjunctiva.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by many factors, the most common of which are viruses and bacteria. The conjunctiva can also become inflamed in response to allergens or chemicals that get into the eye, in addition to which mechanical irritation, dry eye, fungus, or local eye irritation can cause inflammation.

Treatment depends on the type of conjunctivitis and its cause. For example, viral inflammation develops and heals in most cases without the need for any special treatment. Instead, eye drops or an antibiotic gel should be used to relieve bacterial inflammation. Hygiene and keeping the eyes clean are paramount in preventing conjunctivitis.