Eyes: The Windows to the Soul

Our eyes are an expression of who we are and what we are feeling.   We rely on our eyes to sense our environments and to let light in.  What exactly are the physical features of the eye that we can see? 

First the pupil allows light to enter the eye and appears dark because it absorbs pigments in the retina.   

Second is the iris which is the beautifully pigmented part of our eye.   The iris is circular muscle that controls the size of our pupil to let in light.   Iris color varies in individuals as you can see in these pictures.   The iris color is different according to eumelanin (brown/black melanins) and pheomelanin (red/yellow melanins) produced by melanocytes.   There are mutations in our gene alleles creating different colors of blue and green hues.   

Third is the cornea that covers both the pupil and iris.  The cornea is the most powerful lens of the optical system of the eye and with assistance from the crystalline lens allows for production of a sharp image. 
  

Lastly, is the sclera.  The sclera is the white part of the eye that creates the supporting wall of the eyeball. This sclera's white contrasts against the Iris to create a beautiful eye.  

Do eyes tell stories about people?  

Everyone has some kind of different eye. Whether you have more red in your sclera, more pigment in your iris, or your pupil is bigger, everyone has a difference in their eyes. Eyes are one of the biggest features of our face and each eye will show who we are and how we are feeling.  A recent study by scientists at Orebro University in Sweden found that patterns in the iris can give an indication of whether we are warm and trusting or neurotic and impulsive.  

Each of these photos tell a story of whether a person is more impulsive, more excited, or more relaxed. We can tell by the pupil size.   We can also look at the sclera to see if these people have had less sleep or more stress from the blood vessels bursting.  We can also infer the age of these subjects from the amount of wrinkles on the skin around the eyes.   Each eye tells a story and is very different.  It is very interesting how much detail there is in our eyes and how pigment plays a role to change the eye completely.