Want to get Hunter Eyes?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for which I earn a commission.

Note: Before starting, click here to open a new tab in Amazon to search for items that you might need.

The eye area is one of the most significant parts of the face and vital for human communication. We use the eyes to examine each other for cues, as well as to assess each other for health.

Hunter eyes are pivotal to having a great eye area. Most models have this trait or at least deep-set eyes. On the other hand, a bulgy eye shape, it sticks out like an eyesore.

So, how does one manage to have the hunter’s eye look?

Unfortunately, there are no direct methods to obtain hunter eyes other than cosmetic surgery. Nonetheless, no procedure can really make your eyes more deep-set. The best way to achieve true hunter eyes is a long-term commitment to mewing.

What Exactly is Hunter Eyes?

Before we can further describe what that is, let’s first define hunter eyes. These are eyes that are deep-set and rest far back in the skull. How far back they rest depends on the bearings of your orbit bones, of which there are many.

Unfortunately, having hunter eyes is genetic. Even several models have large orbits. On the other hand, few models have both hunter eyes and large orbits. But with a lifetime of proper posture and chewing hard foods, adequate pressure can be exercised on the maxilla to narrow the orbital bones in a vertical direction, though this procedure takes many years.

A vertically compressed eye orbit is typically the core feature of hunter eyes. But the eye shape plays an important role.

Hunter eyes are obviously straight, hooded, deep-set, horizontally broad, vertically compressed, and have a positive canthal tilt. A positive canthal tilt happens when the lateral canthus rests higher than the medial canthus.

The attractive eye has a positive canthal tilt. A negative canthal tilt conveys a tired or depressed look, but is one of the things that can be fixed by surgery.

The Opposite: Prey Eyes

As mentioned previously, vertically compact orbitals are necessary to an attractive eye. Prey eyes root back to large orbits, probably due to genetics, aging, or shortness of midface support (also called recessed maxilla).

Prey eyes seem circular and hollow, often exposed and bulged out. One the other hand, hunter eyes sit deep into the skull.

What Causes Prey Eyes?

Several causes leading to prey eyes include genetics, bad posture, incorrect tongue posture, recessed maxilla, and mouth-breathing. Let’s examine some further.

Scleral Show

The scleral show is the exposure of sclera or the white part of the eyes on the lower lid. It is an anatomical state wherein the sclera area is visibly enlarged due to aging, trauma, endocrine disease, or eye surgery failures.

Recessed Maxilla

Most people have tired-looking eyes as a result of possessing a recessed maxilla. The solution to this is using an upward force on your palate through your tongue. This method is called Mewing and it helps obtain upward and forward growth.

Mewing includes managing a correct tongue posture and proper swallowing technique. While mewing, your tongue forces the maxilla upward while extending your palate and sphenoid bone. Mewing is a great way to reduce scleral show and the gap between your eyes and the brow area.

There is no particular surgery that will give the hunter eye look that you desire. Hence, mewing is the top choice.

Hunter Eyes vs. Prey Eyes

Orbital Height/Width

Again, vertically compact orbitals are crucial to a charming eye area.

Prey eyes derive from large orbits due to aging, genetics, or lack of midface column. They are hollow and rounded, probably due to eye bags or a saggy under eye area.

You would want your eye area to be vertically compact, yet horizontally wide to give a hunter eye appearance. Hunter eyes are shielded in the back of the skull, whereas prey eyes are exposed and always bulge out.

Upper Eyelid Exposure

Eyes where the upper eyelid isn’t noticeable, or “hooded eyes,” are deemed attractive. On the other hand, a person with lots of exposed upper eyelid can look bug-eyed and tired.

Canthal Tilt

The canthus is the pinkish part of your eye. The medial canthus is within your nose, while the lateral canthus is on the outside of your face. Canthal tilt, on the other hand, is the angle between your medial and lateral canthus.

If your lateral canthus seems higher than your medial canthus, you have a positive canthal tilt. But if your lateral canthus seemed lower than your medial canthus, then you have a negative canthal tilt. You are deemed to have a neutral tilt when the canthi are aligned.

The medial canthus of an average male Caucasian is approximately 2 mm lower than the lateral canthus (positive canthal tilt). While women with medial canthus that are 4 mm lower than the lateral canthus have an even more positive canthal tilt.

Generally, a slightly positive canthal tilt is more appealing. A negative canthal tilt is unattractive and it also gives you a tiring look. A canthal tilt that’s too positive makes you look like you’re from out of this world.

Before you assume that you have a negative canthal tilt, keep in mind that taking a selfie from below eye level will give your canthal tilt a more negative look. Take your photo at eye level or practice first in front of the mirror before taking a photo.

Downturned Medial Canthus

A medial canthus that mops down is generally deemed more attractive, as opposed to being horizontal.

Arch Shape

The arch of an attractive eye will be flatter at the top, rather than rounded. Also, the highest point of the upper eyebrow and the lowest point of the lower eyebrow create a line that should be equal to about one-third of the eye.

Eyebrows

The eyebrows’ objective is to catch sweat and block it from falling into the eye. They are essential because they frame the face. If your eyebrows are wispy and thin, it can make you look like you’re sick (thin eyebrows are also an actual sign of thyroid deficiency).

The perfect male eyebrow is straight (or slightly curved) and thick. It rests on the supraorbital rim (the upper part of the orbit, where the eye socket joins the forehead), whereas for females, it’s higher and rests just above the supraorbital rim.

Scleral Show

An unattractive trait, the scleral shows is the appearance of the sclera below the pupil due to a sagging lower eyelid.

The lower eyelid should cover 2 mm of the base of the iris. If not, it’s likely a sign of midface hypoplasia. In either case, a clinical procedure called blepharoplasty can fix the scleral show.

You can examine your eyelid tone by pulling down your lower eyelid and seeing if it bounces back. If it doesn’t, then you’re having an eyelid laxity.

Likewise, your upper eyelid should overlap the limbal ring by 1-2 mm. If your upper eyelid falls too much, that’s called ptosis which makes you look tired.

Limbal Ring

The eye has a medial and lateral limbus that links to form a dark ring around the iris called the limbal ring. The limbal ring is a sign of youth and decreases in size with age. In babies, it is exceptionally noticeable.

Overall Dimensions

The dimensions between your eyes should be comparatively fit and close to average. Both eyes should be relatively balanced. Here are some common guidelines:

The perfect face is divided up into fifths, with each fifth as long as the eye width.
The intercanthal width is equivalent to one eye width.
The outer canthal width is equivalent to three eye widths.
The medial limbal width should be approximately similar to your mouth width. The inner side of your iris should roughly line up with the side of your mouth.
Interpupillary width is similar to the length between your nasion (the portion of your nose between your eyes) and your upper lip.

When these dimensions are off, our brains can easily register them. For example, telecanthus is an increased intercanthal width, generally found in individuals with Down Syndrome.

Hypertelorism is an enlarged distance between the medial eye orbits, commonly found in individuals with Crouzon or Apert syndrome.

How to Get Hunter Eyes?

Unfortunately, the thing that makes your eye aesthetics is the actual shape of your orbit bones. Your choices for changing your eye area appear somewhat limited.

Most plastic surgeries are more for correcting deformities rather than improving your orbit shape. However, you still have some alternatives.

Canthoplasty

Canthoplasty is an operation on the canthi of the eye. This is done to give the eyes a more attractive look.

A lateral canthoplasty is performed by repositioning the lateral canthus. The surgeon makes a cut across the lateral part of your eye horizontally. The canthal tendon is separated from the orbital rim and reattached. This helps to essentially raise the lateral canthus vertically.

An epicanthoplasty expands the eyes horizontally. This is done mostly in Asian countries because small eyes are seen as unattractive.

A canthopexy is similar, except that no cuts are performed in the tendons or muscles and only stitches are done. A canthoplasty will produce better results and last longer, at least in the hands of a certified surgeon.

While this surgery can make a tremendous difference in your eye area, it does nothing to make the eyes more deep-set. However, it can still contribute to give you the hunter eye shape.

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)

Blepharoplasty is a surgery that lifts your eyelid. The goal is to rebuild normal functioning to the eyelids or improve its aesthetics.

First, the surgeon will make a cut in the upper eyelid crease where a scar won’t be noticeable, or on the lower eyelid from the inside. The surgeon will then lift or reposition the fat so that he can work on the muscle. Fat injections in the lower eyelid can help lessen the appearance of circles.

Blepharoplasty can take away extra skin and repair laxity, providing a hooded eye appearance. It can also help with:

Loose or saggy skin
Puffiness, bags, or dark circles
Fatty deposits that seem as puffiness in the eyelids
Scleral show
Excess skin, fat, or wrinkles in your eyelids

However, it takes a long time for swelling and bruising to completely heal.

Consult a plastic surgeon first to help you decide if it is something you genuinely need. Make sure your surgeon has accreditation with the American Society of Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience in eyelid surgeries.

Do more research than just looking at reviews. Make sure the surgeon shows you actual before/after work pictures of his or her previous patients.

Keep in mind that blepharoplasty doesn’t help with ptosis. That’s because it is a dysfunction of the muscles or nerves that control the raising of the upper eyelid. For that, you require a different surgery called a ptosis repair.

Ptosis Repair

Ptosis is a sinking of the upper eyelid. It can have problems ranging from paralysis to disease, or you could simply have been born with it.

Ptosis Repair surgery is intended just for fixing this specific condition. It contracts the muscle that is responsible for lifting the eye and is meant to restore normal functioning. As a result, the patient will look more awake.

Orbital Decompression

Orbital decompression surgery is precisely as it sounds. It helps release built-up pressures in the eye that essentially arises from Grave’s eye disease, a type of thyroid disease.

This is done by separating bones and fat in the orbit itself. However, this surgery won’t help you get any closer to hunter eyes unless you have this particular condition.

Almond Eye Surgery

As popularized by Dr. Taban, Almond Eye Surgery is a combination of different surgeries. Usually, it consists of canthoplasty, ptosis repair, and lower eyelid retraction. But this is at the discretion of your surgeon.

And the results are quite remarkable. Patients who undergo this type of surgery went from having a tired look to youthful and vibrant-looking almond eyes.

Mewing

Mewing is the number one thing that you can do for your eye area. As time passes, it will eventually push your midface upward and forward, which is exactly what you need.

Your eyes will mature more deep-set into your skull.
They will become more vertically and more compressed.
Your midface will help the skin and fat under your eyelid, and you won’t have bags or circles anymore due to the stretching of the skin.
Your canthal tilt will become more positive according to numerous mewing reports, because your cheekbones are extending upwards and forwards, pushing up on the lateral part of your eye. It’s counter-intuitive, but your medial canthus won’t lift with mewing, as the bone in our nose is separate from the skull.
The reduced scleral show will result from the more compressed orbit area.
Since your eyes won’t be bulging out anymore, there’s less chance for your upper eyelid to be more prominent, and you’ll get a better eyelid arch shape without having to glare.

If you doubt that bones can change, just look at Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with ALS. This is a disease that hits the muscles and not the bones. And yet the muscles, over a long period, bent the bones significantly.

A similar process occurs in muscular dystrophy. Over time, this caused the mouth-breathe to change slowly.

So where does mewing fit in? Well, basically, mewing is simply correcting tongue posture and body posture. This is something that we humans have lost as we went from a nomadic outdoor lifestyle to living in houses.

Allergens such as dust mites have destroyed our abilities to breathe through our noses at an early age. Also, the poor posture that’s prevalent in today’s society, intensifies poor tongue posture.

Slouching your head forward to look at a phone or computer prompts your mouth to hang open. So, you should do the opposite.

Final Thoughts

Research related to individuals seeking a potential partner found that men and women consider an individual’s eyes more important than other facial characteristics.

Facial attractiveness has been previously connected to various factors like symmetry, proportionate facial traits, jawline, and so on. Also, facial attractiveness plays an important role in social interactions including mating and reproduction.

It is to be noted that there are no immediate procedures to get the hunter eyes look. Because the eyes are such a sensitive area, there are only several surgeries that you can go through.

We advise speaking to a professional healthcare specialist before considering any type of surgery. After all, surgeries are irreversible.

The best thing you can do is start mewing and correct your lifestyle. This involves replacing soft food with raw, hard food, doing facial and jawline workouts, and having correct head posture. If you want to get true hunter eyes you have to give mewing a serious shot.

What are you struggling with?