Why Do Sith Eye Colours Change? (And How To Get Their Look)

Star Wars has been a timeless pillar of science fiction and fantasy, with legions of fans still showing up for the continuously expanding universe created by George Lucas. These days, the eleven mainline movies have regular stints returning to cinemas in the UK and beyond. The set includes the three trilogies following the Skywalkers and the prequel stories Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

The expansive story has had its fair share of iconic villains and imagery, among which the eyes stand out as critical differentiators between different sentient beings and their allegiance. The Sith design, in particular, has been consistently unique and captivating regardless of the key characters’ impact on the overall lore. The character design of villains in Star Wars has had such a grip on the perception of the series that it trickles over to collectible merchandise like the very popular Anakin Skywalker Funko POP! Figurine. Interestingly, the character doesn’t always have these glowing yellow eyes even though they have become so heavily associated with the “dark side” and its modern depiction.

Why do Sith eye colours change?

Otherworldly yellow eyes have become the main symbol for a villain’s deep corruption and direct link to the dark side within the world of Star Wars. This is most evident when Anakin Skywalker first fully embraces the dark side in the Prequel Trilogy, eventually transforming into the iconic Darth Vader.

What’s worth noting is that, while a clear indicator of the intense rage and betrayal felt by Anakin, these eyes aren’t always part of the transformation process. In fact, plenty of the most powerful Sith Lords don’t have yellow eyes. This is meant to denote the intention behind their villainous actions. For instance, Darth Maul also has yellow-red eyes due to his savagery, but Count Dooku never has the altered colours because of his more controlled state of mind, led by the belief that he was serving the galaxy for the greater good.

So, the change seems to be a trigger whenever the Sith is emboldened by their innate turbulence that empowers their dark abilities. This implies that those who constantly have the sickly amber eye colour are driven by intense feelings of pain or hate. Consider how even Darth Vader, as he ages, gradually loses the significant yellow tinge in his eyes despite becoming the most powerful Force-user in the galaxy and the most feared Sith Lord in the Order’s ranks.

Creating the Sith look

The visual symbolism is evident when considering the role of the “Sith eyes” in establishing the universe’s lore. From a design standpoint, the choice can be attributed to the style and narrative decisions born from a collaboration between Lucas and Oscar-winning conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie. Masterfully working on the original trilogy, McQuarrie established many visual pillars and design rules that would guide subsequent films and media within the Star Wars franchise. Among his works rose the design of Darth Vader himself, arguably the most recognisable villain in the series.

The popularity of these designs resulted in cosplays time and again recreating the imposing Sith Lords, dating all the way back to 1977. It’s even easier to recreate the look more faithfully these days, with coloured contact lenses being available from reputable retailers at a more affordable price. Air Optix and Freshlook create breathable contact lenses that are comfortable for extended wear and can come with and without corrective vision. The Honey variant provides a dramatic yellow glimmer to emulate the seething anger of the Sith, while those who want a subtler yellow to note a more mature villain would likely opt for the unique starburst pattern of the Illuminate series.

To complete the look, this can go hand in hand with other accessories that fully capture the character. These days, you can easily find a designed mask that nicely replicates the look of the official masks seen in actual media. Those in high positions in the Sith Order have a unique mask meant to protect their head, intimidate enemies, and conceal their identity. If purchasing one is too pricey, one can make it through moulding, 3D printing, or crafting. Countless tutorials are available online to make this process easier.