Mutochromasia
Mutochromasia is a sex-linked disorder that results in the changing pigment of the human iris.
Mutochromasia makes itself known within five years of birth, and presents itself in the form of an extreme lightening or darkening of the iris and or skin. It occurs when there is a drastic increase or decrease in the production of OCA2, a chemical involved in the production of melatonin. Individuals with this conditions will see the pigments of their eyes shift colour over a period of years, before finally settling into their permanent pigment between the ages of 12 and 15. Individuals whose eye had previously been blue will see a shift to either a dark violet or a near translucent pink; individuals whose eyes had previously been brown will see their eyes shift to a bright yellow, or to a near black. Green eyed carriers have thus far remained unaffected.
Because of their shared symptoms, Mutochromasia is often mistaken for Albinism. While both Mutochromasia and Albinism occur due to a lack in the chemical OCA2 Mutochromasia, unlike albinism, can result in either the lightening or darkening of the iris. Both conditions have been proven to increase the likelihood of sight-related issues, however new research has shown that it is only when the eyes have lightened considerably in individuals with Mutochromasia that this sensitivity exists. Though the conditions themselves are not directly related, Mutochromasia can coincide with albinism in more extreme cases
Another condition closely associated with Mutochromasia is Lipofuscin, a condition that is characterized by lipid sacks that gather beneath the skin and within the retina. This condition turns the iris and oftentimes the whites of the eyes yellow, and can be extremely dangerous. Those these conditions are often very similar in appearance Mutochromasia is much less dangerous than Lipofuscin, and sufferers of the latter should receive medical attention as soon as is possible.
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