While age and gender seem like obvious characteristics that can affect pain tolerance, what about eye color? It may appear far-fetched, but a study by Inna Belfer, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor or anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh, found that eye color is a genetic biomarker for pain thresholds.
Dr. Belfer presented the study at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Pain Society. She and a team of researchers studied 58 pregnant women; 24 placed in a dark group and 34 placed in a light group. After directing a variety of quantitative testing (questionnaires and surveys), the team measured responses to pain before and after giving birth and determined the dark group experienced more dramatic responses than the light group. These responses included increased anxiety and sleep disturbances.
Dr. Belfer’s study is the first to assess eye color and differences in pain. She plans to continue her research in hopes of determining an accurate indicator of a pain tolerance predictor through eye color.
From: http://www.philly.com/philly/health/Eye_color_may_affect_pain_tolerance.html
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