# Elizabeth Taylor's Violet Eyes - I Have the Answer! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 3, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950 "2010-10-03T21:29:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/41 "2010-10-05T07:35:28Z")
Did he describe to you the condition and appearance of the veins in her eyes? > [@](#): > > And he told me no, they aren’t. They are blue, but the red veins are very numerous and visible, so the red and blue combined make her eyes appear to be violet! > > Ta. Da. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/42 "2010-10-05T07:37:04Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I worked in a hospital dealing with patient medical information. I had a copy of the HIPPA rules at my desk. I’ve taken courses in HIPPA compliance. You have no idea what you are talking about. “And you are no Jack Kennedy!” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/43 "2010-10-05T09:50:28Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Did he describe to you the condition and appearance of the veins in her eyes? > > > [@](#): > > > > And he told me no, they aren’t. They are blue, but the red veins are very numerous and visible, so the red and blue combined make her eyes appear to be violet! > > > > Ta. Da. numerous visible red veins in blue eyes make eyes appear to be violet. Taylor’s and all the other “violet” eyed people who are not sick, impaired, disfigured, or in any way seeking or needing medical attention for their violet eyes. Boyo: Quote the part you think applies, and I’ll consider it. The fact that you have read the rules and have a copy doesn’t mean you know that they apply in this case. Show me where it says anything that would cover this and you’ll have my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/44 "2010-10-05T11:59:09Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > Did he describe to you the condition and appearance of the veins in her eyes? > > numerous visible red veins in blue eyes make eyes appear to be violet. > > Taylor’s and all the other “violet” eyed people who are not sick, impaired, disfigured, or in any way seeking or needing medical attention for their violet eyes. > > Boyo: Quote the part you think applies, and I’ll consider it. The fact that you have read the rules and have a copy doesn’t mean you know that they apply in this case. Show me where it says anything that would cover this and you’ll have my attention. Sorry, I’ll just shut up and go away. I’ve already read your threads about your legal adventures and your opinions about interpreting the law, and I’m not about to start another. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/45 "2010-10-05T12:08:06Z")
I don’t understand why this means her eyes aren’t “really” violet. Your skin is the color it is because of the complex layers of melanin, fat and blood vessels in it, giving it a brownish or pinkish or yellowish hue. The interplay of genotypically blue irises and red capillaries my be what \*gives \*a person violet eyes, but that doesn’t mean they’re not violet. You’ve simply become aware of the mechanism of their color. (Green eyes are fat eyes, by the way. Blue genotype irises with lots of yellow fat deposits makes the eyes green.) ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/46 "2010-10-05T13:49:40Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I don’t understand why this means her eyes aren’t “really” violet. Your skin is the color it is because of the complex layers of melanin, fat and blood vessels in it, giving it a brownish or pinkish or yellowish hue. The interplay of genotypically blue irises and red capillaries my be what \*gives \*a person violet eyes, but that doesn’t mean they’re not violet. You’ve simply become aware of the mechanism of their color. > > (Green eyes are fat eyes, by the way. Blue genotype irises with lots of yellow fat deposits makes the eyes green.) I have the yellow mixed with blue or Hazel. My Mom has green eyes and my Dad had blue eyes. Eyes can just be a variation of both parents colors. I have seen very light brown eyes that almost appear to be reddish and mixed with blue it would make purple. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/47 "2010-10-05T14:32:00Z")
I have very light blue eyes. when I am angry, and the adrenaline constricts the caplillaries, they appear almost white. when we were kids, my older Brother (much larger and stronger than I) would occasionally call this “Hulk eyes” and back away in fear. When I’ve been crying, they do indeed look purple, although it’s more lavendar than violet. this is because of the redness within the dialated capillaries. I usually wear unneeded glasses in high-risk negotiations, because the color is such a tell for those in the know. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/48 "2010-10-05T16:42:51Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I worked in a hospital dealing with patient medical information. I had a copy of the HIPPA rules at my desk. I’ve taken courses in HIPPA compliance. You have no idea what you are talking about. Yes, but have you taken any courses in HIPAA compliance? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/49 "2010-10-05T16:56:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I have very light blue eyes. when I am angry, and the adrenaline constricts the caplillaries, they appear almost white. when we were kids, my older Brother (much larger and stronger than I) would occasionally call this “Hulk eyes” and back away in fear. Puny Humans always annoying Liz! **LIZ SMASH!!** ---
**Author:** ![FrigidLizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@FrigidLizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrigidLizard)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950/50 "2010-10-06T01:04:52Z")
The most beautiful creature I have ever seen was a small albino boy I encountered several years ago. He smiled up at me and I actually caught my breath seeing his lavendar eyes. A moment later it registered that I was actually seeing red capillaries through transparent blue irises. I also originally thought he was bald, but it was just that his skin and hair were the exact same beigey-white color. It was pretty magical for me, I actually believed (in a poetic fashion) that I was staring at a fairy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-taylors-violet-eyes-i-have-the-answer/555950.md?page=2)