Yemeni child gains viral fame for rare eye color

A child from the Anas District in the Dhamar Governorate of Yemen has gained widespread attention on social media due to his rare eye color. A video showing the child riding a donkey in his village went viral, attracting millions of views.

The child’s eyes feature a unique shade described as a mix of light blue and turquoise. Medical experts suggest this appearance is caused by a significant reduction in melanin within the iris, which causes light to scatter and reflect in this specific manner. While there is no specific medical term for ‘turquoise eyes,’ the phenomenon has turned the child into a social media figure, drawing content creators and photographers to his village.