Seasonal affective disorder and brown eyes? Why those with dark eyes may be more prone to the winter blues

Those with blue or light-colored eyes may be less affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) compared to those with dark-colored or brown eyes, a study found.

The study, published in the Open Access Journal of Behavioural Science & Psychology, sampled 175 students at two different universities, one in South Wales and another in Cyprus. Scientists gave the students a questionnaire that helped “estimate the extent to which an individual varies in mood with the seasons,” the study says, noting the questions more specifically helped to determine the person’s changes in sleep, appetite, energy, weight and beyond in fall and winter.

Based off the responses, “we found that people with light or blue eyes scored significantly lower on the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire than those with dark or brown eyes,” Lance Workman, the study’s lead author and visiting professor of psychology at the University of South Wales, wrote in The Conversation this week.

Workman also noted this study’s findings echo previous research that concluded those with darker-colored eyes are more prone to depression than those with blue eyes.

The reason for the difference? According to Workman, it may be because of how much light a person’s eyes can process.

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