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So does this mean that evolution favored lighter eyes where there is less sunlight and darker eyes closer to the equator?

From the article: "Prof Monteiro said, “What is exciting about this research is that by using the comparative method in evolutionary biology, we find that many species of primates independently evolved bluer eyes at higher latitudes, just like what happened within our own species. This helps tip the balance towards an ecological, rather than sexual selection explanation, for the evolution of blue eye colour in humans.

Blue light helps us tune our circadian clock to adjust energy levels by stimulating special receptors in our retina. In geographic regions with less light, bluer irises may allow more blue light to reach those special receptors, thus boosting energy levels. This would help explain why blue eyes evolved and spread only far away from the equator." So yes.

As someone with light blue eyes, this makes sense. My eyes are very sensitive to light. I’m tied to my sunglasses when I’m out and about most days. If I forget them on a sunny day, my eyes will constantly water.

It’s painful to realize I went out without sunglasses and a hat.

I went to a theme park as a teenager without my sunglasses. Never again.

But do you experience boosted energy levels?

Most primates are genetically modified. They are perhaps the most feral of all the wild creatures because humans have always enjoyed keeping them as pets. There is nothing you can use them for except human epidemic models.

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Same, my mom (dark brown eyes) would often give me grief when I'd say something was too bright. I kind of just figured that blue/grey/green was more sensitive.

I have light blue eyes also but do not have weak baby crying eyes like you

At least I see pretty well in dark settings.

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I used to wonder about this but not in the same sense. I always wondered if people with different colored eyes saw the world slightly differently because of the way the eye takes in light. It seems like the different color iris would have potentially had some evolutionary reason beyond "beauty selection" we already know that people with lighter colored eyes are more prone to have issues in high or strong sunlight.

The article was not fully comprehensive. It may be a segway Into future research. If this line of research continues they will likely look more closely at the different colors and their response to different environmental conditions. While there are people with all different colors of eyes all over the planet and population groups with light eyes at different latitudes and vice versa their are higher numbers with specific colors in certain regions. Eye color is typically not exclusive to one area but may be more common. For example you find blue, green, honey colored....etc eyes in Africa and brown eyes in Europe.