Eye Shapes

Eye shape is important when it comes to applying makeup and making aesthetic decisions about eyewear.

But did you know it also affects your vision? Your eye placement also plays a role in your visual ability.

The ten different eye shapes include:

• Almond eyes
• Round eyes
• Monolid eyes
• Protruding eyes
• Downturned eyes
• Upturned eyes
• Close-set eyes
• Wide-set eyes
• Deep-set eyes
• Hooded eyes

Different Types of Eye Shapes

Almond Eyes

A person with almond-shaped eyes has an iris that touches the eyelid on both the bottom and the top. They have a visible crease on the lids and the ends of their eyes taper at the tear duct and the outer point.

Almond eyes are wider than other shapes and have smaller eyelids. 

Round Eyes

A person with round eyes has visibly noticeable creases. The whites on the top or bottom of their irises are visible.

Their eyes appear more circular and/or larger and more prominent. The outer and inner corners of their eyes do not taper or pull inward or outward. 

Monolid Eyes

A person with monolid eyes does not have much of or any crease. Their eyes look flat.

Protruding Eyes 

A person with protruding eyes has eyeballs that appear to bulge outward from the eye socket. 

Downturned Eyes

A person with downturned eyes has eyes that taper downward at the outer corner. The eye appears to have a slight drop toward the cheekbone.

Upturned Eyes

Upturned eyes are the opposite of downturned eyes. The eye shape is usually almond-like, but there is a slight lift at the outer corner and the bottom lashes turn upward.

Some people call this eye shape cat eyes.

Close Set Eyes

This refers to the location of the eyes on the face more than the shape of the eye. Close set eyes have less space between the eyes.

There is very little space on either side of the bridge of the nose.

Wide Set Eyes

Wide set eyes are the opposite of close set eyes. The space between them (across the nose bridge) is further apart.

Deep-set Eyes

Deep-set eyes give the appearance of a more prominent brow bone. They are set deeper in the skull and appear larger than non-deep set eyes.

Hooded Eyes

Someone with hooded eyes has eyelids that appear smaller. The hood is caused by an extra layer of skin that droops down over the crease.

How to Determine Your Eye Shape

People can have a blend of different eye shapes. There are also endless variations of these shapes. Everyone’s face shape is unique, so just a slight difference from the standard definition of one’s eye shape can make things confusing.

Here are the steps to help you determine your eye shape:

1. Look at a Mirror

To determine your eye shape, place a mirror at eye level. Take a step back and look forward. This will give you the best view for determining your eye shape.

2. Observe Your Crease

Start by determining if you can see your eye crease. If you cannot see your crease, you have monolid eyes.

3. Ask Questions Regarding Your Eye Shape

If you can see the crease, consider the following:

Does the colored part of the eye have any white showing? You have round eyes.

Does the eye’s outer corner turn down? You have downturned eyes.

Does the iris touch the bottom and top of the eyelid? You have almond-shaped eyes.

Do the outer corners flick upwards? You have upturned eyes.

Is the crease blocked by a skin flap? You have hooded eyes.

In some cases, drooping eyelids are confused with hooded eyes. Drooping can be a sign of a medical condition.

How Eye Shape Affects Your Vision

Eye shape can affect overall vision. You’ll need to see an eye doctor if there is an issue within the eye.

Ptosis

Ptosis is when drooping eyelids can interfere with vision. It occurs when the upper eyelid border falls low enough to partially or fully cover the pupil. 

A person can have ptosis in one or both eyes. It might be present at birth or develop over time due to nerve problems or muscle diseases.

Severe ptosis can cause someone to compensate for vision obstruction by lifting their eyebrow, which leads to tension headaches. 

Treatment for varies, but ptosis surgery is an option.

Myopia

Additionally, the shape of someone’s eyeball also affects vision. Elongated eyeballs are an indication of nearsightedness or myopia. This means the person has difficulty seeing far away. 

Most people with nearsightedness can see up close. But far-off items cause blurriness and trying to focus can lead to eyestrain and headaches. 

Nearsightedness is also caused by the cornea having an abnormal shape. When the curvature is too severe for the eyeball’s length (or the lens of the eye is too thick), nearsightedness can occur.

Hyperopia

Shortened eyeballs are an indication of hyperopia or farsightedness. People with farsightedness struggle to see close-up objects clearly. They might have difficulty reading or looking at a computer or phone screen.

Severe cases of farsightedness can also affect distance vision. Farsightedness also occurs when the cornea has too slight a curvature. 

In most cases, eye shape is nothing more than an aesthetic issue. It plays a small role in vision. However, eyeball shape can have a significant effect on vision.

Summary

Your eye shape can vary from person to person. It influences your eyewear, makeup, and vision. You can determine your eye shape by asking different questions about your eyes' looks and appearance.