"I also have blue/green/gray eyes that change color depending on my mood."

This is a quote from a 21 y/o female. I have heard of eye color
changes during infancy, after death, and even two different eye
colors, but is it possible for a person's eye color to change during
adolescence or adulthood in such a volatile manner? Does it have to do
with mood? Is it possible for eye color to change over a more extended
period of time and then permanently stay that way (also during
adolescence or adulthood)?

It always sort of bothered me when people would say this, because I
always just think they're saying it for attention, or they may just be
noticing a shade of color in their eyes that a certain lighting is
bringing out, and they assume that their eye color is changing.

What I'm looking for is for this to be proven as a myth, and have at
least 1 credible source so I can shove it in people's faces when they
tell me their eye color changes :D Of course, if it proves to be fact,
then I won't be able to do that. Either way, I want to know.

Clarification: I am asking this question in the context of both sexes.

I have also heard people, actually only women, say that their eye
color depends on what they're wearing. Like you, I feel like this is
bull. I can't prove it, but I can point to a superb optical illusion
that demonstrates how squishy color perception seems to be.
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/moomoo40moo/opt1.jpg
The center piece of each X-shape is the same color.

Heh, thanks for the comment mate. And yeah, I notice it a lot more in
women, but I'm sure that you know as much as I do that voicing
observations about gender makes you sexist.

So I restrained myself.

Eye "color" may seem to change due to factors such as color of
clothing and lighting (natural light, time of day, overcast or sunny).

Hi all,
  My sister has green eyes, but hers really do change color depending
on what color is around them! We would stand in front of the mirror
and hold up different color shirts, and actually watch her eyes
*physically* change! I have no idea where to find proof (either to
support or disclaim), but I just wanted to give my own two cents on
the fact that I have actually Seen it happen! And it wasn't due to
lighting, mood, or any of those things, either... weird!!
     -m.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you. Not until I see some factual
information one way or the other.

Ok, here we go.

"An interesting question about changes in adult eye color is often
asked. As we have discussed previously, eye color is about reflection
of ambient light from the structure of the iris. People with lightly
colored irises note that their eye color changes according to the
colors they wear. No mystery there, but the resultant apparent color
of the eye is a combination of the color reflected from one's clothing
(or even eye make up) and is not always what you might expect!

 

Some people have noted that when they are ill or under stress that
their eye color becomes darker or lighter. Clearly there has been a
change in the distribution and/or density of melanin or lipofuscin on
the iris. How this actually occurs is not fully understood, but we are
beginning to have some clues as to the processes. A recent medication
used to treat glaucoma, latanoprost, causes such a color change. We
understand, at least partially, the mechanism of action of the drug, a
prostaglandin analog, which means it mimics this hormone, which is
normally present in the body. It would appear, then that hormones may
have effect iris pigmentation and this might explain the change in eye
color sometimes seen in adults. It should be mentioned that there are
certain specific systemic and eye diseases that can cause a change in
iris color and any marked change of short period of time requires
prompt medical attention."

That answers this question.

Basically, due to reflected light eyes can change color and as said,
it's not always what you expect.  We might expect though, if you have
green eyes, and you get yellow light reflected your eyes might look
green.  The famous blue/green changing eye ball :P

Also, apparently hormones and chemicals that haven't been thoughoughly
investigated by science can't say exactly why eyes change lightness
with mood, but according to this article it's possible.

Another thing, if you read through this article, as we age eyes change
colors because the cornea changes and such.  But we're talking rapid
young eye color change, so yeah, there we go.

http://www.eyecarecontacts.com/eyecolor.html  <--- link to article.