Fun Eye Facts

Seeing is so important that it takes up more than 50% of the brain’s functionality. 

Last Updated: April 12, 2023

Eye Facts

  • Did you know that the average blink takes 1/3 of a second?
  • Seeing is so important that it takes up more than 50% of the brain’s functionality.
  • Newborns don’t shed tears, though they do know how to cry.
  • You blink about 15-20 times in a minute.
  • The most active muscles in your body are in your eyes.
  • Your eyes can get sunburned.
  • Blue eyed people are more tolerant of alcohol and less tolerant of the sun
  • If the human eye were a digital camera it would have 576 megapixels.
  • We spend about 10% of our wake time with our eyes closed.
  • An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
  • Chameleons can move their eyes in two directions at once.
  • A single scallop can possess over a hundred eyes
  • Your eyes contain around 107 million light sensitive cells.
  • Dolphins can sleep with one eye open.
  • Birds, cats and dogs have three eyelids.
  • Yes, you can sneeze with your eyes open and no, your eyes won’t fall out.
  • Ommatophobia is the fear of eyes.
  • Humans can see more shades of green than any other colour.
  • The world’s most common eye colour is brown.
  • Dogs cannot distinguish between red and green.
  • The lifespan of the average eyelash is 5 months, the rest of your hair will last 2-4 years.
  • The eye has over 2 million moving parts.
  • Your eyes contain 7 million cones which help you see colour and detail and 100 million cells called rods which help you to see better in the dark.
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