Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 4/29/2009

Question
Hello. I was wondering what would be the outcome if me, hazel eyes (brownish-greenish) had a baby with my husband blue eyes. It is so hard to do an 'eye color prediction calculator' online for they do not give you the option to put hazel eyes into the mix. Thank you for your help with this...
So, my father has hazel eyes that can go from light brownish-green to a light blueish-grey color. My mother has brown.
My husbands father has blue eyes and my husbands mother has blue eyes.
Also -and this is only if you have time to address this last question as well- When I was born I had dark brown, but as I have grown older they are a very light hazel greenish/ light brown. My grandparents on both sides have hazel/blue eyes and my mothers mom is the only grandparent with dark brown. Could it be the mix of all of the genes I got handed down kicking in making my eyes lighter as I get older?
Thank you again. I am very interested in this so your answer would be awesome.

Answer
Hi Jen:  Thanks for your question.

Eye color, like hair color is polygenic.  That means the color is controlled by several genes.  That makes accurate prediction almost impossible.

However:

Since you have provided such detailed information about the baby's parents and grandparents we can make a more accurate prediction.  
To recap:  On your side, your father is hazel, your mother brown and you are hazel.
On your husband's side, his father and mother both have blue eyes.

We know that blue eyes are recessive (not shown) if crossed with brown/black.  It looks as if you did not inherit the brown genes from your mother, she probably had some recessive blue or hazel that account for your eye color.

Hazel is actually a combination of brown/green that appears to change color in various light situations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_color

http://www.agen.ufl.edu/%7Echyn/age2062/lect/lect_10/16_10.GIF

Since blue is recessive, I would guess brown or hazel for the baby.  But remember, this is not an exact science!

And, yes, eye color can change with time.  Especially in hazel eyes.

Hope this helps.

FM Rollwagen, PhD