You might have come across Bollywood songs that celebrate blue eyes as a mark of stunning beauty. But on Indonesia’s Buton Island, this rare eye color is common among all the locals though it’s not without complications.
The residents of Buton Island, located in the Sulawesi province of Indonesia, all belong to the Buton tribe and are known for their brilliant blue eyes. While their eye color is naturally mesmerizing, it’s not simply an aesthetic feature, it’s caused by a rare genetic disorder.
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A Rare Genetic Cause
The unique eye color is due to a condition called Waardenburg Syndrome, which affects approximately one in 42,000 people globally. This mutation, which occurs during fetal development, leads to striking eye pigmentation but can also result in other physical challenges.
More Than Just Looks
Waardenburg Syndrome doesn’t just affect eye color. It can lead to hearing impairments, patches of skin without pigment, and even a condition where one eye is blue and the other is brown. Though their eyes may look captivating, the disorder brings health complications that make this beauty more of a burden than a blessing.
