Eye color not linked to sensitivity

No relationship exists between eye color and sensitivity, contrary to previously published reports, according to results from a small study. For a subset of subjects with the palest irises, there may be a linear association between eye color and sensitivity to cooling stimuli, the researchers added.

Laura Henderson, BS, and colleagues measured ocular surface sensitivity of 20 patients with a Belmonte esthesiometer. Some of the main outcome measures included cold detection thresholds, discomfort detection thresholds and mechanical detection thresholds.

No associations between eye color (determined clinically or objectively) for mechanical and chemical detection thresholds were found. There was a significant linear association between 20· detection thresholds and eye color, which was substantially improved with a two-line function.

The study is published in the July issue of Optometry and Vision Science.