Is it possible for a person to be born with purple eyes?

EDIT - The story of Alexandria's Genesis is now appearing purely fictional. Sorry for the confusion. I have a friend with violet eyes, which appear "purple" so at first glance the story was believable to me.

There are children who are born with a medical condition that causes the whites of the eye to be purple. The condition is called Osteogenesis Imperfecta or OL.

"Alexandria's Genesis," as it has been called since the 1960s, is a genetic mutation generally found in women of Euro-American (a.k.a., Caucasian) descent. This mutation can be traced as far as the Middle Ages in Northern Europe. The first known record of "Alexandria's Genesis" was written in the year CE 1330 (Common Era).
A woman named Alexandria Augustine came into the world on April 29, CE 1329 in London, England. At the time, she appeared to be normal, but her parents soon noticed that her eyes were changing from the blue eyes Alexandria had at birth to the purple eyes she would have by her first birthday. The parents were startled by this dramatic change. They took her to their priest, thinking that a witch did this to their child, and that the priest might be able to ask God to change the eye color back. The priest told the parents that it was not the work of the devil, but a myth come true. This particular priest had heard a story about a race of people who had purple eyes. These humans were thought to have come from Egypt after a mysterious light flashed in the sky during a moonless night thousands of years ago. The purple-eyed humans also had very fair skin, and were thought to be spirits because of their appearance. The so-called "spirit people" eventually went north and vanished without a trace. The priest told her parents not to worry, for they had a special child in their hands and they should take good care of her.
Eventually, Alexandria grew up to be a very beautiful woman, got married, had four children (all four were girls, and all four also had the mutation), never got sick, and died at the age of 150 of natural causes. It is this discovery that helped to name the genetic mutation when the gene was discovered in 1968.

For more information please see the link
http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/forums/classify/0412054301.html

Purple Eyes and Other Interesting Anomalies

If you have read any of the statistics of my Daria-based fan fiction characters or any of my stories about those characters, you will have noticed that three of my characters (Raven, Rebecca, and Zia) have deep purple eyes. It's not because they wear contacts in order to hide their real eye colors. It's because of a genetic mutation called "Alexandria's Genesis."

The Origins of the "Genesis"

"Alexandria's Genesis," as it has been called since the 1960s, is a genetic mutation generally found in women of Euro-American (a.k.a., Caucasian) descent. This mutation can be traced as far as the Middle Ages in Northern Europe. The first known record of "Alexandria's Genesis" was written in the year CE 1330 (Common Era).

A woman named Alexandria Augustine came into the world on April 29, CE 1329 in London, England. At the time, she appeared to be normal, but her parents soon noticed that her eyes were changing from the blue eyes Alexandria had at birth to the purple eyes she would have by her first birthday. The parents were startled by this dramatic change. They took her to their priest, thinking that a witch did this to their child, and that the priest might be able to ask God to change the eye color back. The priest told the parents that it was not the work of the devil, but a myth come true. This particular priest had heard a story about a race of people who had purple eyes. These humans were thought to have come from Egypt after a mysterious light flashed in the sky during a moonless night thousands of years ago. The purple-eyed humans also had very fair skin, and were thought to be spirits because of their appearance. The so-called "spirit people" eventually went north and vanished without a trace. The priest told her parents not to worry, for they had a special child in their hands and they should take good care of her.

Eventually, Alexandria grew up to be a very beautiful woman, got married, had four children (all four were girls, and all four also had the mutation), never got sick, and died at the age of 150 of natural causes. It is this discovery that helped to name the genetic mutation when the gene was discovered in 1968.

The Characteristics of "Alexandria's Genesis"

The first characteristic of people with "Alexandria's Genesis" is their eye color. When someone is born with this genetic mutation, the eyes are either blue or gray at birth. At six months, the eyes begin their transformation from the original color to purple. This process is completed by the person's first birthday. A second process, where the eye color deepens, starts as soon as the first is completed. This slow process continues until the onset of puberty. By then, the eye will have become a dark purple, a deep purple, a royal purple, or a violet-blue color, and will be that color for the rest of their time. These changes do not affect the person's eyesight, though. If anything, the eyesight is, and remains until death, 20/20.

Speaking of puberty, those who have the mutation will never grow any facial, body, pubic, or anal hair during this stage of growth. In fact, the only hair they will ever have is what is on their heads, in their ears and nose, their eyebrows, and their eyelashes. Women also have an added bonus beyond never having to shave: never buying tampons or pads. It turns out that females born with "Alexandria's Genesis" never menstruate in their lives. They are fertile, however, and can go through the same things that women without the mutation can go through every month. Beyond these differences, those with the mutation go through puberty as normally as everyone else does.

Below are all of the characteristics of "Alexandria's Genesis."

Clear, silver-like purple eyes (after 1st birthday; deepen in color until onset of puberty)

No facial or body hair growth beyond what was already there at birth

Dark brown or black hair

Shimmering white skin that resist tanning and burning

Lack of menstruation cycle (in women)

Highly evolved immune system (has been known to resist every disease known to man so far)

Appear 5-20 years younger (after the age of 21, the aging process slows down greatly; it stops completely between the ages of 40-50)

Long life span (ranges from 130-170 years)

Perfect vision

Never overweight (their metabolism prevents the gaining of too much fat [a.k.a., partial lipodystophy])

Well-developed and proportioned bodies

Found mainly in women of Euro-American descent

Women are the primary carriers of the mutation

Children born from mothers with the mutation are also carriers

Mutation remains active generation after generation

Mutation grows stronger generation after generation

Interracial Children of the "Genesis"

An interesting aspect of this mutation is that if it passed on to a child whose mother or father is not of Euro-American descent, the child will receive all of the qualities of those who have the gene. The only quality that changes is the skin color; it is lighter than those without the gene are, but it is not as light as the parent with the mutation is. So far, this gene has shown up in children whose mother or father was Hispanic, Asian, or Arabic. If these children were to marry someone within their own race, their offspring would also develop the same characteristics. The most startling aspect of the biracial "Genesis" children is that they take on a more Euro-American appearance. Not much more is known about these children beyond these initial findings.

Another Interesting Development

In ten percent of the population that has "Alexandria's Genesis," there is another characteristic of this mutation that is increasing on a yearly basis: the processing of human waste… or lack thereof.

As it turns out, in some of these people, the mutation is actually causing the digestive system to produce no waste. No one has found out how this is possible, but most scientists have a theory that may explain this increasing phenomenon.

The digestion process goes through its normal procedure until the digested product enters the large intestine. It is there, scientists suggest, that the large intestine absorbs everything and uses the product to keep the body in top shape. This makes the bladder completely useless, and leaves the small intestine and rectum as just an opening. It is not much of a theory, since very little is still known about "Alexandria's Genesis."

Conclusion

There are questions about this genetic mutation that remain unanswered. The biggest question left unanswered is where "Alexandria's Genesis" actually first appeared. Many researchers are looking into the myth of the "spirit people" of Egypt in order to find out if this mutation really did exist several thousands of years ago. If that is indeed the case, the next question to be answered is if this

Yes it is possible, anybody ever heard of Elizabeth Taylor? She was famous for her lavender eyes!

No, because purple does not occur in nature.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators

I am in my final year of an Ophthalmology fellowship. After four years of med school, five years of residency and my fellowship I can definitively state that violet eyes do exist and are natural. They are exceptionally rare. The iris has essentially three layers. An outer thin layer, a middle spongy layer, and a thin backing layer. Any and all of these layers can have varying degrees of melanin in them. The middle spongy layer also contains proteins that can be yellowish. The more melanin=more brown. Less melanin=bluer. Yellow proteins+blue=green. Yellow proteins+brown=amber. Hazel eyes are caused by any mix you can think of. This is an oversimplified explanation, but correct. Violet eyes are a kissing cousin of grey eyes (which also appear different colors based on the surrounding conditions). Grey eyes only have a small amount of melanin and it's only in the backmost iris layer and have no yellow protein. Violet eyes have almost no melanin and the purple color is caused by the blood vessels in the retina showing through. Red+Blue=Purple. Any less melanin and one would have pink albino eyes.

it is possible, but incredibly rare. if i'm not mistaken, it has something to do with albinism- if you have ever seen an albino person or animal, you know that their irises are red due to a complete lack of pigment that allows their blood vessels to show through. it is possible for a person to not be completely albino, but to carry certain traits... like an improper amount of pigmentation in their irises, and when this happens (particularly if their natural eye colour is blue) the blood vessels and tissues can show through, making the eye appear violet.

well my eyes change colors, blue, green and purple-y, however when i am in the sun for hours at a time the outside rim is already a thick black line, but the secong layer in will become bright aqua and the inner layer will be bright yellow green. this is a picture i took last year, by littlest sisters eyes do the same purple-y thing too

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=4008177&albumID=110400&imageID=6557444

you guys decided

I believe Elizabeth Taylor has violet eyes. Or so they say.

I have an acquaintance with purple eyes. The white portion of his eyes are also strange--they're pink and veiny instead of the normal white. It's very disturbing.

My eyes are lavender. :)

They say Elizabeth Taylor has Violet eyes.

I don't know about being born, but my aunt has hazel eyes that change color daily, going from brown, to green, to violet.
I, too, have eyes that change color on a daily basis, but since I don't look every day, I cannot say if I myself have had violet eyes or not.
the violet I'm describing is a deep purple, ringed with brown.

if anyone has anymore information on purple/violet eyes, or how/why eyes can change color so rapidly, I'd love to hear it. (and no, don't send me to Wikipedia; been there - uselss)

yes, there is one person that was born with purple eyes and is known for being the only person born with purple eyes!

yep, i have purple eyes

my biology teacher in 9th grade about three years ago said that it is in fact possible but very rare. they are violet though, not light purple. or so i'm told. i have yet to see anyone with them.

Yush, but I think it's kind of rare. :3

Yes it is i was born with deep purple eyes which i had till i was two.

I was born in 1968 i was born with deep purple eyes which i had till i was two. I do not know the reason for this. I have only just looked on the internet for answers not much to find. My mothers side of the family originated in egypt.

Yes it is possible, but it is very rare. I only have proof because I was born with purple eyes.

I think that it is possible for a person to have purple eyes depending on there family history and what they eat.

According to the story of Alexandria's Genesis, it is possible. However, in the story, Alexandria was born with blueish grey eyes that faded to purple before her first birthday, and through puberty her eyes grew a much deeper purple. There are few stories of people today being born with purple eyes, but I have heard a few, even on the internet to which they are turned down with the simple answer of "Alexandria's Genesis is fictional." I don't want to believe that to be true. If the person that claimed to have Alexandria's Genesis was telling the truth (she said she has only a few symptoms, one of them being having never gotten sick), then yes, it is possible. However, the supposed natural genes that come along with Alexandria's Genesis along with purple eyes are less likely to be possible.

However, according to studies i have done myself, purple eyes can be a result of a kind of disease. A disease however, cannot necessarily remain with a person all their life can it? My view on this, is that yes, the result of purple eyes is a kind of "sickness", not a disease, which causes the iris to naturally retain the color purple, which is a variation of blue. And, this sickness is less harmful to the body than any kind of disease is, and cleanses the body of other viruses or diseases, and makes for a longer lifespan as is a symptom of Alexandria's Genesis.

yes, violet eyes were once only found in northern Kashmir and Afghanistan. As conquerers from the west came they took the people with the best traits (violet, green, blue eyes and other "light" traits) back to north western europe to breed with. My sister has violet eyes. I have grey green eyes.

Share your answer...Me and my family all have osteogenesis imperfecta which is a connective tissue disease, which includes problems like fragile bones, heart problems, excessive bleeding and we all have blue sclera (whites of eyes)very dark blue from birth and gradually lighten up into old age, the opthalmic student should have know that!

i saw a man with purple eyes in morocco. and he seemed very normal and was not very light skinned and he had black hair and curles. i thought it was something supernatural but its only genetic because i looked it up. ithink its very cool. it could be some kind of special bloodline.

Share your answer...

According to the story of Alexandria's Genesis, it is possible. However, in the story, Alexandria was born with blueish grey eyes that faded to purple before her first birthday, and through puberty her eyes grew a much deeper purple. There are few stories of people today being born with purple eyes, but I have heard a few, even on the internet to which they are turned down with the simple answer of "Alexandria's Genesis is fictional." I don't want to believe that to be true. If the person that claimed to have Alexandria's Genesis was telling the truth (she said she has only a few symptoms, one of them being having never gotten sick), then yes, it is possible. However, the supposed natural genes that come along with Alexandria's Genesis along with purple eyes are less likely to be possible.

However, according to studies i have done myself, purple eyes can be a result of a kind of disease. A disease however, cannot necessarily remain with a person all their life can it? My view on this, is that yes, the result of purple eyes is a kind of "sickness", not a disease, which causes the iris to naturally retain the color purple, which is a variation of blue. And, this sickness is less harmful to the body than any kind of disease is, and cleanses the body of other viruses or diseases, and makes for a longer lifespan as is a symptom of Alexandria's Genesis.

I heard that it's VERY rare, but it is possible. I've never met someone with purple or violet eyes, and OH I wish I had them!! Alexandria's Genesis is a load of rubbish... I was slightly sceptical but open minded when I read about it, but the symptoms are ridiculous... 130 - 170 year life span, no human waste, and shimmering skin? No way; it would be more talked-about, and the oldest person ever was about 120 anyway.
I know this sounds REALLY stupid, but I'll kick myself if I don't ask and then find out there were methods being speculated. I know how stupid I sound, so don't say I'm stupid or daft, please... I know I am :') ... Is there any way I could try to make my eyes violet or purple without contacts? Or just tint them?
I know it sounds extremely daft.
Thanks :)

I love how so many people are lying about having purple eyes.
It's rare, you idiots. Do you really think we're going to believe all of you? It's the internet. You're not cool. Your eyes won't turn purple if you lie about it.

yes it is...
more about it here http://www.outpost-daria.com/fanfic/purple_eyes.html

yes this is perfectly normal if the child is elbino

Yes at least I hope so since I have purple eyes :) Well they change colors but my eyes are usally a darker shade of purple but if they do change it is usally to a dark shade of blue

When I was younger my eyes would change from blue to a deep purple in the sunlight. I wish I hadn't lost that trait when I got older.

And on the topic of the story, that would be so cool if it were true, but it's just a story. I think we would have heard of it before had it been true, and the link I found sounds like a girl wrote it for her own story.

Elizabeth Taylor herself has pooh-poohed the notion that her eyes are violet; just that they are a very dark blue that reflects slightly differently.