The color of the eye depends on the pigment present in the iris. The iris is the colored part of the eye that surrounds the pupil, and it controls the amount of light that enters the eye. The iris contains pigments called melanin, which give the iris its color. The amount and type of melanin present in the iris determines the color of the eye. For example, eyes with more melanin tend to be darker, such as brown or black eyes, while eyes with less melanin tend to be lighter, such as blue or green eyes. The cornea, on the other hand, is the clear front surface of the eye and does not contribute to eye color. Additionally, rods and cones are photoreceptor cells in the retina that are responsible for detecting and transmitting light, but they do not affect eye color.