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Abstract
Human iris displays significant phenotypic diversity in color and structural attributes, rendering it a crucial characteristic in the fields of genetics, forensic science, anthropology, and biometric identification. Nevertheless, information is scarce regarding iris phenotypes within the Pakistani population, especially in Sindh. This study aimed to explore the variation of iris features among students at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 500 healthy, unrelated students (278 males and 222 females), aged between 18 and 25 years, were recruited after obtaining informed consent. Standardized digital images of both eyes were taken and categorized into five eye-color groups according to the Fitzpatrick Phototype Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 22.0 to assess the distribution of iris phenotypes and their correlation with demographic factors. The results indicated that brown-based eye colors were the most prevalent in the study group. The brownish black phenotype was the most frequently observed (35.6%), followed by dark brown (26.8%) and light brown (25.4%), while hazel/green (7.4%) and blue (4.8%) eyes were relatively uncommon. Males exhibited a higher occurrence of darker eye colors, whereas lighter eye colors were more commonly found among females. In total, brown shades comprised 87.8% of all documented eye colors, reflecting the typical pigmentation pattern of the local population. This research offers foundational data on iris phenotypic diversity among young adults in Sindh and provides essential information for future studies in population genetics, forensic science, and biometric research. The results also underscore the significance of recording regional phenotypic variations to enhance the precision of identification systems and population-based research.