Eye contact - the most flirtatious form of body language

There are few indicators of romantic interest quite as reliable as the eyes. When we’re face to face with someone who sets our pulse racing, there’s no hiding the attraction. From dilated pupils to fluttering eyelashes to raised eyebrows, the signs are visible if you pay attention. Cher once sang, ‘If you wanna know if he loves you so, it’s in his kiss’ but we’re here to tell Cher, it’s all in the eyes!

Pupils widen when we like what we see

Pupil size is one of the few signals the body gives away without meaning to. Pupils open up in dim light, but they also open up when we look at someone we are drawn to. That happens through the autonomic nervous system, the same one that quickens your pulse, so there is no conscious control over it. It is part of the reason candlelight has always flattered a first date.

How long a glance lasts changes what it means

In ordinary conversation, eye contact comes in short bursts of a few seconds before one person looks away. Hold it longer and the meaning shifts. A gaze that lingers reads as interest, which is why a look held across a room can feel so loaded. Break it too quickly and the same look reads as awkwardness instead.

The eyebrow flash and other small signals

Attraction rarely shows up in a single gesture. The eyebrow flash, a rapid raise and drop of both brows lasting a fraction of a second, is a near universal greeting for someone we are pleased to see. Add more frequent blinking, the crinkle at the outer corners that separates a genuine smile from a polite one, and the habit of glancing back for a second look, and the picture becomes hard to miss.

Looking after the eyes doing all this work

For all the signalling they do, eyes are easy to take for granted. Regular eye tests, sunglasses with proper UV protection and breaks from screens all help keep them comfortable. And if glasses or contact lenses have been getting in the way, laser eye surgery may be worth a conversation. Book a consultation with Optilase to find out whether it suits you.