TheMeaningandMessagesoftheEyes:
ClinicalImplicationsforMusic-Thanatology
ElizabethBarber
August19,2002
ChaliceofReposeProject
SchoolofMusic-thanatology
Missoula,MT
Copyright©2002ElizabethBarber
AllRightsReserved

Acknowledgements
IwouldespeciallyliketothankAliceReich, PhD,forteachingmetothinkanthropologically’,to
betterunderstandmythandsymbol,totryonnewpoints· ofview,andforteachingmehowto
“connectmoreofthedots.”Thankyoutoalltheon-sitefacultyforinspiringme,challenging
me,andinsistingthatIdomorethanIthinkIcan.IamespeciallygratefultoRobertSardello,
KenThorpandThereseSchroeder-Shekerforhelpingmetoseewithneweyes.
GratitudebeyondwordstoDonnawhoismyothersetofeyesandearsandwhohas
alwayshelpedmetoseeclearlywhenmyvisionhasgrowndim…
**************************
‘TheEye’
SaidtheEyeoneday,”1seebeyondthesevalleysamouain
Veiledwithbluemists. Isitnotbeautiful?”
TheEarlistened,andafterlisteningielyawhile,said,
“Butwhereisanymouain?1donothearit?”
ThentheHandspokeandsaid,”1amtryinginvain
Tofeelitortouchit,and1canfindnomouain. “,
AndtheNosesaid,”Ther~isnomouain,1canotsmellit.”
ThentheEyeturnedtheotherway,andtheyallbegan
TotalktogetherabouttheEye’sstrangedelusion.Andtheysaid,
“SomethingmustbethematterwiththeEye.”
Gibran

Introduction
Theclinicalworkofmusic-thanatology’occursatamostintimatetimeinaperson’slife:asthey
arefacingtheirownmortalityoractivelydying.Becausethisissuchauniqueandspecialtime,we,as
musician-clinicians choosetolimitourgatheringofobjectiveinformationfromandaboutthepatientin
thevigilsettingtotheleastinvasivegesturespossible. Ourobservationsincludetheassessmentofpulse,
skintemperatureandmoisture, andrespirations.Inadition, weobservecloselythecountenanceofthe
patient. 3Throughoutthevigilthereisanongoingprocessofobservationofphenomenarelatingtothe
qualitiesofrespiration, gestures,movement, speech, andfacialexpressions.
Inthemonthssincebeginningtheclinicalphaseofmyeducationasamusic-thanatologistatthe
bedside, Ihadbeguntowonderiftheeyes-appearance, movements, characteristics-couldprovide the
musician-clinician withinformationregardingthepatient’sconditionandresponsetothemusic.This
“wondering”hasresultedinmyresearchontheeyesandinformationfromavarietyofdisciplines
includinganatomyandphysiology, ophthalmology, nursing, neurology, optics,psychology,philosophy,
nonverbalcommunication, history andmythology, aswellasanecdotalinformationrelatedtotheeyesof
patientsinhealthcaresettings.Basedonthisresearch, Ihopetoshowthattheeyeshaveameansof
,
communicating awealthofinformation, andthatindeedtheremaystillbea”languageoftheeyes” (as
symbolandmetaphorhaveuniversally concluded).
Inthewriting ofthispaper, Ihavebecome moredeeply awareofcertain elementsinmyeducation
asamusic-thanatologist. Lectures on”Contemplative Musicianship” and”Contemplative Scholarship”
werereceived inthefirstsemester layingafoundationfornewways ofseeing, listening andbeing. We
weretoldofother times whenseeing alsomeanthearing, andwewereencouraged tolearntohearwhat
wesee(Schroeder-Sheker,
2

Musicianship).Music-thanatologywaspresentedas”acontemplativepracticewithclinical
applications”an,assuch,someformofpersonalspiritualpracticewasstronglysuggested.
ThereseSchroeder-Shekerstatedthat,”Therudimentsofspiritualknowledgearereceived
throughtheear,andwhentheseideaspenetratetheheartandareapprehendedbytheoculis
cordis[eyeoftheheart],hearingbecomesvision”.RobertSardellopresentedonthe”Spiritual
PsychologyofSilence”andintroducedexerciseswhichencourageexperienceswiththeeyeof
theheart(October,2000). Fromtheverybeginningandthroughoutthefoursemestersof
academicformationwehaveworkedtowarddevelopingphenomenologicalawareness,insight,
andunderstanding(Schroeder-Sheker,Sardello, Thorp,andReich)” Ithasbeenaprocessof
changingthewayIthink,listen,andviewthingsaswellaslearningtoseeandexperiencethings
innewanddifferentways. Itisnowonderthatinselectinga’topicformyprofessionalpaperI
wouldbedrawnto’lookatsomethingforthethousandthtimeandseeitforthefirst. ,5TheeyeI
seeistheeyethatseesme…theseerandtheseen”,
TheEye:Myth,Meaning,andMystery
Thesignificanceoftheeyeinhumanhistorycanbefoundinlanguage, history, andmyth.
Figuresofspeechsuchas”iflookscouldkill”containancientechoesofthefearofbeing
watchedbyanenemyorpredator. Ethologistsandcommunicationtheorists proposethatthe
earliestformofhumancommunicationwasbasedupongesturesandfacialexpressions7.Asthe
hunterandthehunted, thewatcherandthewatched, soundcouldbeheard, callattention,reveal
,
location,and/or frightenoffprey. Humansrelieduponvisiontocommunicate.
Language contributes anairofmystery relatedtotheeye.InEnglishandatleasttwo
otherlanguages thewords’I’and’eye’soundidentical. Theycanonlybedistinguished by
context (Vader, 705).Itisstrikingthatthesoundofthepersonal pronoun usedtoidentify myself
isidentical totheorganofsightItisalsointeresting thattheverywords” identity”, “identify”,

and”identical”allcarrythe’L’eye’soundandthelastwordindicatesthe”sameness”oftwo
differentobjects.Perhapsitisnocoincidencethatdiscoveriesinrecentyearshaveshownthat
theirisisuniqueineachpersonandcanbeusedforidentificationpurposeslikeanocular
fingerprint. Theeyeliterallytellswhoyouare.
EarlysignsoftheimportanceofsightandtheeyesisfoundintheCodeofHammurabi
(1800BCE)wherethepriceofvariouseyesurgeriesarelistedandthepenaltyforunsuccessful
surgerywascuttingoffthehandsofthesurgeon.TheEgyptianEberspapyrus(1550BCE)lists
some237medicinalremediesclosetohalfofwhichwerefortheeyes(Gorin; 3).Recordsfrom
aHindusurgeondatingbackseveralthousandyearsandspeakofthesurgicalprocedurefor
cataractsthatwasuseduntilthe17thcentury(Vader,706).IntheGreektraditionPlato(427-347,
BCE)spokeoftheeyeasthemostbeautifulpartofthebody(Berendt, 21)·andAristotle(384-
322,BCE)consideredseeingasthe”highestsense”:
“Allmenbynaturedesiretoknow.Anindicationofthisisthedelightwetakein
oursenses;forevenapartfromtheirusefulnesstheyarelovedforthemselves; and
aboveallothersthesenseofsight. Fornotonlywithaviewtoaction,buteven
whenwearenotgoingtodoanything,wepreferseeing(onemightsay)to
everythingelse.Thereasonisthatthis,mostofallthesenses, makesusknowand
bringstolightmanydifferencesbetweenthings.”(MetaphysicsBookI)
TheHebrewscripturesreferto”aneyeforaneye”(Ex.21:23-25)asthewaytogauge
appropriaterecompenseforlossorinjury.TheBiblicalDictionaryofImageryincludesalistof
citationsidentifyingtwentyfeelingsexpressedwiththeeyes(Ryken, etal,256). Theyinclude:
Well-being: “…thestaffhewasholdinganddippeditintothehoney.Thenhe’
raisedittohismouthandhiseyeslitup.(NewAmericanBible,1Sam14:27)
Pity:”Thesoulofthewickedmandesiresevil;hisneighborfindsnopityin
hiseyes.(Prov21:10) .
Grief:”Myeyesaredimmedwithsorrow;”(Ps6:8)8
Theperceived powerandthreatfromtheeyesisalsoapparentfromthepresenceofterms
referringtothe”evileye”intwenty-one differentlanguages(Vader,707).
4

Itisinterestingtonotetheconnectionbetweenthephysicaleyetohistoryandmythin
thenamesofthetwomostnoticeablefeaturesoftheeye:theirisandthepupil. Thecolored
portionoftheeyeisnamedforIris,theGreekgodessoftherainbowandtheoriginalmessenger
fromthegods.ShewasthedaughterofThaumas,thegodofWonder,andElectra,thegodess
ofWatersandOceans.Itisperfectnuancethatthenameofthe’offspring’ofwaterandwonder,
whotraveledacrosstherainbowtodeliverhermessages,isusedinrelationtothepartoftheeye
thatallowslightandimagesfromtheworldtoenterintotheeye(Oyster,411). Intheeye,itis
theiristhatformsthepupilandallowsthemessagesoftheworld(light)toreachus.Theblack
centeroftheeye,thepupil,receivesitsnamefromtheLatinpupillameaninglittlegirl,adoll,or
apuppet. Thenamemostlikelyoriginatedfromthephenomenaofthetinyreflectedimageseen
inthepupilwhenlookingintoanother’seyes.PlinytheElder(23-79,CE)explainedthatthe
smallimageinthepupilisasortofminiaturesoul.Thustheeyewasconsideredthemirrorofthe
soul,aportalwhichrevealsone’sdeepthoughtsbymeansofthegaze(Meslin, 236).
MichelMeslininhisarticleinTheEncyclopediaofReligiongivesanexcellenttreatment
ofthesymbolismandsignificanceoftheeyeinmythandreligionacrossmanyculturesover
time. Thefollowingisasummaryofsomeofthemajorpointscontainedinthearticle.
Theeyeisoneofthemostwidespreadsymbolsamongallreligious
representations.Itiscloselylinkedwithlight,intellectualperception,andtruth.
Astheorganofvisionlightisrequiredtoseeandtoseeclearly.Theeyebecame
thesymbolofthesunthatshoneoneverything,andthesunwasthoughttobean
all-seeingandall-knowinggodlookingdownonalltheearthinmanycultures.
TheEgyptian”eyeofHorus”andtheoudjateyefromthemythofHorusandSeth
representthewatchingandprotectiveeyefoundintombs, coffins,andwornasan
amulet.
Variousgodsweredescribedashavingmultipleeyes.Excavationofa
BabyloniantemplededicatedtoInanna(Ishtar)inSyriadatingbackto2500BeE
revealedworshipofadivinitywithathousandeyes-an all-seeingomnipresent
5

femininedivinity.Inanna’sbrotherShamash,thesungo,isdescribedasseeing
everythingandknowseventhemostsecretthoughts.Varuna,theIndo-European
celestialgo,isdescribedintheRgvedaashavingathousandeyes.IntheIranian
traditionthesunistheeyeofAhuraMazda,andMithra,masterofthevastplains,
hasathousandearsandtenthousandeyes.TheGreekgodKronos.is describedas
havingfoureyes,twoinfrontandtwoinback.
LikeShamash,ZeusisdescribedbyHesiodashavinga”vastgaze”that
piercesthroughtothemostsecretthings(WorksandDays,240,265)andApollo,
thesungo,seeseverything(Iliad3.277,Odyssey11.109).ThegazeofAthena,
godessofWisdom,shinesandfascinatesbutalsoevokesfear. IntheIliadwhen
AchillesseekstokillAgamemnoninarage,sheintervenesforcingAchilles to
lookintohereyes. Hecriesout,”Itisterrifyingtoseethelightofyoureyes”
(1.200),becausethelightinhereyesisthe[confronting]lightofreason.
Meslinstatesthattheeyeknowsbecauseitsees,andthatsinceHomeric
times(8thcenturyBeE)”anindissolublerelationshiphasexistedbetween
knowingandseeing:
“Inseekingtodiscovertherealitybehindthephysicalappear-
ancesitperceives,theeyebecomesthelocusofinnerrevelation…
knowledgeisbasedonsight,onanopticalintuition.Fortheknowledge
oftruthrestonavisionthatmovesupwardfromtangiblerealitiesto
timelessandeternalthings…”(237).
Mysticalandmagicalqualitiesareattributedtotheeyesaswellinhistoryand
myth. Oftenwhensightwaslostthepersonwasgiftedwiththeknowledgeof
secondsight. Odin(Germanictradition)isaone-eyed godhavinggivenaneyein
paymenttothesorcererMinnir,orMemory.InreturnOdinwasallowedtodrink
dailyatthespringofknowledgeandlearnthescienceoftherunes. TheGreek
divinerTiresiasreceivestheabilitytoseethefuturebybecomingblind. Theloss
ofaneyewasseenasameansofacquiringsuperiorvisionandsupernatural
powers.Knowledgeacquiredasaresultofblinessledinsomeplacestothe
practiceofocularmutilation.Bliness,orvoluntarymutilations oftheeyes
becamethesignofthesuperiorsightofthedruidsandthediviners.
Themagicalpoweroftheeyecouldbepositiveornegative.Theintensity
ofthegazeoftheone-eyedpersonisfoundinthestoryofMedusawhosegaze

couldturnpeopletostone. Storiesoftheevileyeinvolveabeliefintheunlucky
influenceofa’look’withmalevolentintent. Often, thegazethatwasbelieved
harmfulwasduetoanabnormaleye-unusualcolor,doublepupils,orsquinting.
However,theevileye,castforvengeanceoroutofenvy,wasaninvisiblethreat
againstwhichonemustbeprotectedbycountennagic-amulets,incantations,…
eyeswereevenpaintedonthebowofboats. IntheRomanworl,fearof
fascinum(theevileye)wasconstant. ChristianpreachersstartingwithPaulraised
theirvoicesinvainagainstbeliefintheevileye:
“YousenselessGalatians!Whohascastaspelloveryou-you before
whoseeyesJesusChristwasdisplayedtoviewuponhiscross?”[Gal3:1,NAB]
Beliefintheevileyeisfoundinpre-IslamicArabiaandtheMuslimworldalso.
InthecultsofHamerti, ReandThoth[Egyptian:sungod;andgodofwisdom,
learningandmagic],arethetwoeyesofHorus,thegodofthesky.AHamerti
storytellsofthestrugglebetweenHorusandSethinwhichSethpokesoutoneof
Horus’eyes.TheeyeishealedbyThothandbecomestheoudjateyethatshines
inthedarkandvanquishesdeath.EgyptianfuneralpracticesinTheBookof
GoingForthbyDay(17.29ff)recapitulatestheepisodeinaformulatobesaidto
thedeadpersonbytheoneplayingThoth: “Irestoretotheeyethefullnessit
possessedonthedayofthefightbetweenthetwoaersaries.” Thismeansthat
lightanddarkness,lifeanddeatharereconciledintheafterlife.Thismadethe
‘eyeofHorus’andexcellentamulet. Avariationofthiswatchingmysticaleyeis
foundonthebackoftheUS$1dollarbill.
Otherreligiousandmysticalreferencestotheeyeincludetheuseofthe
wordeye675timesintheHebrewscriptures[800timesaccordingtotheJewish
Encyclopedia, 310]and137timesintheNewTestament. Itdesignatestheorgan
ofvisionanda’privileged’organofknowledgeassociatedwithcharacteristicsof
thewiseandlearned:
“Theeyeisthebody’slamp.Ifyoureyesaregood, yourbodywillbefilled
,withlight(Mt6:22,NAB)
1-“Keepmrcommands andlive,myteachingastheappleofyoureye (Prov
7:2,NAB).
7

Balaam,thediviner,isblindbutuponencounterwiththeAll-Powerful,heisopen
tothehidenandinvisible(Nm23-24). IntheTargumYerushalmiBalaamisa
one-eyedseerwithsecondsight. .
AsasymboltheeyerepresentstheconsciousnessofmanthatYahwehopens
toknowledgeoftheLaw,goodandevil.Variousphilosophicalandreligious
traditionsalsorefertotheinnereyeofthesoulthatallowsaccesstowisdom.The
HindugodSivahasathirdeyeinhisforeheadthatgiveshimaunifyingvision,
andBudha,theawakenedone[eyesopen?],receivedinnerenlightenment
throughacelestialeye.Referencetothe’eyeoftheheart'(oculicordis)is
frequentlyfoundisspiritualandmysticalliterature. TheDesertFatherstaught
that”manmustbecomeentirelyeye,”sincejustastheeyecannotseeordiscern
withoutlight,thesoulcannotcontemplateGodwithoutthelightoffaithwhich
alonecanopentheeyesoftheheart(Meslin,237-39)
IntheAlchemicaltraditiontheeyealsoholdsasignificantplace. Theeyeisseenasa
symboloftheTrinitywiththewhiterepresentingtheFather,theirisistheSonandthepupilis
theHolySpirit(Roob,102).Theeyewithinatrianglepointedupwardwithsunbeamsalso
representedtheTrinity.RepresentationsoftheCherubimandtheSeraphimhaveeyesonthe
wingsasasignofwisdom(Biederman,122). InresearchingcitationsabouttheeyeIbecame
-,
awareofthenumerousimagesthatstronglyresembledaneye.Theyincludedthemacrocosm,
genesis, chaos,aurora(dawn),…SomeoftheseimagesareincludedinAppendixA.
Eyesseemtobeeverywhere!Thereistheeyeofthedomeandtheeyeofthestorm. In
naturepotatoesandcoconutshaveeyes;fish,caterpillars,flowersandmothshaveeyespotsfor
defenseanddeception;somedogshaveeyespotsabovetheireyestomaketheirgazemore
intenseandtointimidate(Huxley, 4).Invariouscultures,lakesareconsideredtheeyeofthe
earth.”Therearealsoeyespotsonthetailsofpeacocks.Theymadesomedelegatesnervousdue
totheir”watchfuleye”andwereremovedfromthegroundsoftheU.N.in196510.

AnatomyandPhysiology
Theeyeasweobserveitoutwardlyappearsfairlysimpleyetitisextremelycomplex.In
theembryo,theeyeappearsattwenty-twodays.Itscontinuedgrowthleadstothehighestdegree
ofspecializationofanytissuesfoundinthebody(Tripathi,533)11.Externally,weseetheupper
andlowerlidsthatopenandclose,thewhiteglobeoftheeyeball,thecoloredcircleoftheiris,
andtheblackpupilthatvariesinsizefrommomenttomoment. Inaditionweseetheeyes
moveup,down, right,left,andcombinationsofthesedirections.Yetbeneaththeskinandinside
theglobethereexistsanincrediblycomplexnetworkofmuscles,nerves,structures,fluids,and
cellsthatmakesightpossible.Inallthatwedonotsee,themiracleofsightresides.
Superiorrectus__~~~~::::::::::::-…
muscle ~::;::::==~~Vitreouschamber Figure11.1. Structureoftheeve.
Conjunctiva
I
Suspensoryligament
Cornea
Pupil
Iris
Foveacentralis
Posteriorchamber
PhotographicAtlas
Theeyesitsinabonydepressionoftheskullcalledtheorbit. Theglobeoftheeyeis
supportedandcushionedbylargefattypads,threebelowtheeyeandtwoabove(Oyster,304).
Thesepadsalllieoutsideofthesixextraocularmusclesresponsibleforthemovementoftheeye
inthesocket.Theyarethemedialandlateralrectus,thatmovetheeyehorizontally;thesuperior
andinferiorrectusmuscles,thatareresponsibleforverticalmovement;andthesuperiorand
inferiorobliquemusclesthatmovetheeyetowardandawayfromthenosediagonally(Cassell,
13).Thesenamesrefertothelocationofthemusclesandthedirectionofmovementsperforme,
butearlyGreekandLatinnamesforthesemusclesreferredtotheexpressivenessoftheeye

movements.Thelateralrectuswasnamedforitsrolein:thesidewaysglancesofflirtation, the
superiorrectusforlookingupwardtobeseechdivineguidanceorintervention, andtheinferior
rectusforlookingdownindisdain(Oyster,141).Inaditiontotheextraocularmusclesthereare
sometwentyfacialmusclesthatcreatethethousandsofvariationsoffacialexpressions(see*
below). Ofthetwenty,fourofthesemusclesareresponsibleforraisingandloweringtheeyelids
(levatorpalpebraesuperioris),andraisingandloweringthebrows,andraisingthecheekstovary
facialexpressionintheregionoftheeyes(Fridlun,45).Facialmusclesdifferfromother
musclesofthebodyinthattheiroriginslieinbone,butmanyoftheirinsertionslieinsoft
tissues,particularlytheepidermallayeroffacialskin(Fridlun,83).
PhotographicAtlas
MUSCLES OFFACEANOSCALI’
Sternocleidomastoid…..”.—–.a
Triangularis
FRON••••LBELLY.QF.
OCCIPITOFRPNTALis _-,
Frontalis—-I-~
~~m;;~P.I— Corrugator
AURICULARIS .
.SUPERIOR
.-,fi:t:o.- Zygomaticus
,tjjRjCULARIS
“ANJeRloR ..
Orbicularisoculi–~Tt~m
Orbicularisoris—~
ZYGOMATICUS
MIN9R
ZYGOMATICUS
.MAJOR
~UAICui..ARIS –
POSTERIOR,
:~EMISPINAUS CAPITIS
‘stERNOCLEIOOMASTOIO: -.
Taber’s CyclopedicMedicalDictionary.
Asyoulookattheeyesofanotherperson(oryourowninthemirror),thefirstpartofthe
eyethatyouseeisinvisible: thecornea,Anormalcorneaisasclearasawatch crystal(Boy-
,
Monk,96).Inaditionthereisalsoaclearfilmofsecretionsfromstructuresintheliningofthe
eyelid(conjunctiva)andthelacrimalglands(tears)thatservetolubricatetheeyeball,keepit
moist,andprovideasmoothsurface overwhichthelidcanslide,Theeyelidalsoprotectsthe
eye,brushesawaysmallforeignobjects, andplaysaroleincontrollingtheentryoflightintothe
eye.Whenrelaxed, theborder ofthelower eyelidalmost reaches thebottom marginoftheiris,

andtheupperlidcoversaportion oftheiris.Continuouswiththetransparentcorneaisthescleraor
“white” oftheeyethatistheoutermostoftherelayersformingtheglobeoftheeye(thesclera, the
choroids, andtheretina). Thestructure andfunction oftheeyeball provideanenvironment optimal
forthefunctionofthephotoreceptive layer, theretinawhichcontains110-125millionrodsforblack
andwhitevisionand6-7million cones forcolorvision(Tripathi, 533).Behindthecornea isachamber
filledwithclearfluidcalled theaqueous humorthatisproduced bytheciliary bodynearthelens.Itis
theproductofanactivemetabolicthatinvolves ionpumpingactionandbalancingtheamountofwater
inthecornea andthelens.Iftoomuchwaterisabsorbed byeither structure itcanloseitstransparency
andbecomemilky. Theaqueous humorflowsfromtheposterior chamberthroughthepupilintothe
anterior chamber whereitdrains outneartheborder of-the corneaandiris.Failure ofthisfluidto
drainproperly leadstoincreasedocular pressureandglaucoma which canleadtobliness.
Thepupil actually aholeinthemuscular, colored iris.Itsblackcolor resultsfrom”thetotal
absorptionofallthe[light]energy wavesofthecolorspectrum” (Pearsall, 50).Thenormal sizevaries
fromtwotoeightmillimeters anddetermines theamount oflightthatenters theeye.Twoinvoluntary
muscles make uptheiris:thesphincter anddilatorpupillae. Thedilator muscle whose contractile
fibersareoriented likethespokes ofawheel pullagainst thesphinctertoenlarge thepupilandthe
circular sphincter squeezes constricting thepapillary opening (Oyster, 422).Themuscles oftheiris
areunder thecontrol andinfluence oftheautonomic nervous systemandfunctionveryspecifically in
thefight-or-flight response. 12Theappearance oftheiris,asunique asafingerprint, comes fromthe
radially oriented, irregular strands oftissueandthespaces andholes between themcalled theCrypts of
Fuchs. Thecoloredringcalledtheirisvaries incolor frompalebluetogrey,hazel, green, andbrown
thatcanbesodarkitappears almostblack (Monk-Boyd, 96).Itscolorisderived fromtheamountof
thepigment melanin
11

withinitandthebloodvesselsbehindit(Oyster,442). Withagingtheirislosespigmentand
thins,andthepupilbecomessmaller(Cassell,9).
Continuingbackthroughthepupilbehindtheirisisthechoroidlayeroftheglobeandthe
lens.Thelensisalsotransparentandhasthecapacitytoalteritsshapeforthepurposeof
focusingimagesontheretinathroughtheactionoftheciliarymuscleinaprocesscalled
accommodation.Withagethelenslosesitselasticityandwithlong-timeexposuretotheUV
radiationinsunlightitstransparencycanbelostandbecomemilkyinappearance(cataracts).
Thiscloudinessdecreasestheamountoflightthatcanentertheeyeandinterfereswiththeclarity
ofimagesontheretina.Theinnermostlayeroftheeyeballistheretinathatismadeupofthe
sensoryreceptorsofvision:therodsforblack/whitevision,andtheconesforcolorvision.Near
thecenteroftheretinaontheposteriorwalloftheglobeisayellowisharea(themacula)
surroundingasmalldepressioncalledthefoveacentralis.Thefoveahasthelargest
concentrationofconesintheretinaandisthetargetpointforthefocusingprocessesoftheeye.
Insidethishollowglobeisajelly-likefluidcalledthevitreoushumorthatmaintainstheround
shapeoftheeyeaswellasperformingotherfunctions.Inembryologicaldevelopment,theretina
isderivedfromtheneuroectodermandrepresentsanextensionofbraintissueintotheeye
(Tripathi,540),andistheoneplacewhereaperson’s’braintissue’canbevisualizedoutsidethe
cranium(Blake,177).Sardelloreferstotheeyeastheoneplacewherethebraincomesoutto
encountertheworldthroughthecontinuityoftheduramaterwiththesclera.(The12Senses).
ProcessesofVision
Thesensorystructuresoftheeyearesensitivetoandrespondtovisiblelightenergy
between400and750nm13andaccountfor40%ofallsensoryinputtothebrain(Tripathi,533).
Fromtheretinatheopticnervefibertractsrelaysensory informationfromthereceptorsinthe
eyetotheopticchiasm(crossingofopticnerves), thethalamus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and
12

thevisualcortexintheoccipitallobebeforereachinghigherlevelsofthecerebralcortex.Inthe
regionofthemidbrainsensoryinformationfromtheeyes,ears,andskin(senseoftouch)
converge.Thisconjunctionofsensoryinformationresultsinanearlyreflexiveturningofthe
bodytoorientitselftowardspecificstimuli(partoftheoculomotorreflex).Inthemidbrainthe
opticnervespassbelow(andcontact)thehypothalamusatanareacalledthesuprachiasmatic
nucleus(SCN)whichgeneratesthecircadianrhythmsofsleepandwake(GareyandVerdon,
731)andisrelatedtotheproductionofmelatonin(Thorp,Fall,2000).14Itisestimatedthatif
youweretolookupfromthispageandlookatyoursurroundingsforafewseconds,theeye
wouldtakeinapproximately126millionpiecesofsensoryinformationfromthevariousretinal
photoreceptorsstimulatedbythelightenteringtheeye(Ratey,99).15Fortunately,verylittleof
thatinformationreachestheconsciouslevel!Inall,approximately40%ofthecerebralcortexis
involvedintheprocessingofvisualinformation-sorting, categorizing,prioritizing,
storing,…(Wilson,715).Intheembryotheprimaryvisualcortexlocatedintheoccipitallobe
developsearly,aroundmi-gestation,andmaybetheearliestsensoryareatodevelop.Itisthe
mostdevelopedsensoryareaatbirth(GareyandVerdon,715).Researchhasshownthatvisual
stimuliarenecessaryforthecreationandmaintenanceofvisualneuralpathwaysinthebrain.
Theabovementionedstructuresandtheirvariousfunctionsarealldirectedtowardclear
visualperceptionorthesenseofsight. Thecontractionofsomemusclesdirecttheeyetoward
theobjectofvision,andothersacttocontroltheamountoflightenteringtheeyeandtheshape
ofthelens. Nervestoonumerousandcomplextonamesendandreceivemessagesthat
coordinateeyemovements,focusimages,andtransmitvisualinformationtothebrain.
Theprocessoffocusedvisioninvolvesveryspecificactivitiesinaguidedreflexcalled
accommodation.Clearfocusonanyobjectrequiresdilationorconstrictionofthepupil,
alterationofthelensshapebytheciliarymuscle,andglobemovementtoorienttheimageonto
13

thefovea.Tofocusfromadistantobjecttoanearobjectthelensthickensincreasingitspower,
theeyesrotateslightlytowardsthemidline(convergence),andthepupilconstricts.These
concurrentactionsareknownasthe”neartriad”(Oyster,138).Thechangeinfocusfromanear
objecttoafarobjectinvolvesoppositeeyemovementscalleddivergence(Brooks,557). The
processofaccommodationnormallyoccursinresponsetoavisualstimulusinthefieldofvision.
AccordingtoBrooks,”thecommongoalofalleyemovement. ..istopositionthevisual
worldproperlyontheretineaoftheeyes,…”(p.553).Theeyesarenevermotionlessevenduring
whatappearstobesteadyfixation. Thepupilisalsoinnearlyconstantmotion.Instudiesusing
continuousmeasurementofpupilsize,afast,rhythmicfluctuationispresent. Thispulsing
movementcansometimesbeseenintheeyesofotherswhentheyarelookingatadistantobject.
(Oyster,418).Thelarger,visibleglobemovementsareacombinationofhighfrequencytremor,
lowfrequencydrifts,andrapidflicks.Experimentshaveshownthatthesemovementsare
necessaryforvision.Eyemovementscalledsaccades(rapidmovements)occurwhenlooking
aroun,scanningandexaminingourenvironment. Normallyeyemovementsareconjugate
(samedirectionatthesametime)exceptduringaccommodationwhentheymoveinopposite
directions(Oyster,137).Theprocessofvisualsearchcombinesovertmovementsoftheeyes
andcovertdeploymentofattention(Wolfe,209). Inacomatosepatientrovingeyemovements
areslow,conjugate,lateralto-an-fromovementsandingeneralindicatethatthebrainstemis
intact(Bradley,etal,51).
Thesenseofsightdoesnotfunctionindependentlyoftheothersenses.Researchersat
BrandeisUniversityhavefoundthatsometimeswe”see”withourearsandnotjustoureyes. 16
Otherresearchhasshownthatlinguisticvisualcues,suchastheshapeofthelips,activatethe
auditorycortex, whileothernon-speechfacialmovements donot(Ratey, 95),andthatthevisual
cortex wasalsostimulated byreadingBrailleinblindpeople(Ratey,59).Thefascinationofthe
14

eyeandvisioncontinuestoday.Inthewordsoftwo19thcenturyscientistsandphilosophers,
“Theeyetakesapersonintotheworld…”(Oken, inBerendt,19)and
“Ofalltheorgansbywhichweacquireaknowledgeofexternalnature,thee,yG-
isthemostremarkableandthemostimportant. Byourothersensestheinformation
weobtainiscomparativelylimited…buttheeyeenjoysaboundlessrangeof
observations….theimmensityofspace:(FromLettersonNaturalMagic,1862,in
Sandell,178).
MedicalProblemsandtheEyes
Thenormalagingprocesshasnumeroussignificantphysiologicaleffectsontheeyesand
visionasdovariousdiseaseprocesses. Inaditiontodecreasedvision,olderpatientsoften
reporthavingdifficultyfindingobjectsinaclutteredvisualfield(SekulerandSekuler,182).
Patient’smayhavepoorvisionforavarietyofreasonsincludingcongenitalproblems,diseases,
andmedicationsaswellasdecliningphysicalprocessesasdeathapproaches.Thepupilmayalso
beoff-center(ectopic)whichisusuallyaccompaniedbypoorvision(Oyster,444). The
followingdiseaseprocessesalsoaffecttheeyes.
Droopingeyelidsareoftenthefirstsignofmyastheniagravisandinlaterstagesare
combinedwithdoublevisionandabnormaleyemovements(Oyster,163). Thesymptomsof
Horner’sSyndrome,aneurologicaldisorder,includeabnormalpupilconstriction,drooping
eyelids,andlackofsweatingofthefacialskin(Oyster,436).Elevatedbloodsugarlevelsin
diabetescanalterthefocusingpowerofthelensandcauseclarityofvisiontofluctuate(Cassel,
etal,327).ImpairedvisionandblinesscanalsoaccompanyCVAs,highbloodpressure,
rheumatoidarthritis,HIVIAIDSaswellastheeyedisordersofmaculardegeneration,
cataracts,andglaucoma.Parkinson’sDiseasecanalsoaffecttheeyesbeyondthe
expressionless”mask-like’facecausedbyimmobility0.ffacialmuscles(Tabers,1333).Patients
withParkinson’smayexhibitdecreasedblinking, littleeyemovement,andtheappearanceofa
fixedstare(Cassel,307).
TheeyesareanessentialpartofaneurologicalexamaswellasinCVAs,traumaticbrain
injuriesandinthedeterminationof’braindeath’. Visualelementsofaneurologicalexam
includethefieldofvision(consciouspatients)andthepatient’s abilitytofollowanobjectwith
theireyes(tracking),pupilsizeandreactiontolight,theoculocephalicreflex'”, the
oculovestibularresponse18,anddirectionaleyemovements.Indeterminingbrainstemdeath
15

threeoutoffivecriterioninvolvetheeyes:absenceofpupillaryresponsetolight, absenceofthe
cornealreflex, andabsenceoftheoculovestibularreflex(Russell,32).
Avarietyofmedicationscaneffecttheeyesinaditiontotheirintendedtargetorgansor
systems. Theseincludeanalgesics,sedatives,coughsuppressants,medicationsforbowel
motility,bloodpressuremedications,anddrugstoreduceintracranialpressure. Theeffectson
theeyesareoftenrelatedtotheautonomicnervoussystemandinterferewithnormalpupil
dilationorconstriction(Lehne,3J2).Medicationsusedforrespiratoryproblemssuchas
bronchodilatorsusewithasthmaandCOPDmayalsoaffecttheeyes.19Othermedications
affectingsmoothmusclesuchasinthebladerandbloodvesselsmayalsohaveeffectsonthe
eyes.Somecardiacmedicationscanalsoaffecttheeyes.Morphine(namedforthegodof
dreamsMorpheus)andotheropioidsproduceabnormalpupillaryconstriction(pinpointpupils).
Somemedicationscancauseblurry, distortedvision, doublevision,redeyes,dryeyes,andlight
sensitivity. Antidepressantscancauseblurredvision,lossofaccommodation,dilatedpupils, and
doublevision(duetolossofeyemusclefunction).Neartodeaththereisablurringofvision
relatedtogeneralizedlossofmuscletone(KozierandBrb,988).
WhatWeSeeattheBedside
Inourworkatthebedsidewemayencounteranumberofphenomenainvolvingtheeyes
ofourpatients.Theeyesmaybetapedshutorbe”gooey”fromointmenttokeeptheeyemoist.
Theymaybecloudyormilkyduetocataractsorimpairedmetabolicprocesses. Awhite ring
aroundtheoutercornea,knownasarcussenilis, maybepresent. Theeyesoftenappearsunken
intheelderlyandthosewhoaredying duetothewastingofthefattycushionsaroundtheeyes.
Theeyeballmayalsoappearrolledupwar, thelidsmaybepartiallyclosedorfullyclosed.
Closureoftheeyesissignificant fromanumber ofperspectives.Closedeyesmaybean
indicator ofsleeporfatigue, butresearch hasshown theeyeclosureisoneofacluster offacial
16

expressionswhichareindicatorsofpaininchildrenandadults(Prkachin, Craig,etal;Tessler,et
al).InstudiesinvolvingEEGreadings,eyeclosureisrelatedtoalphawavesandstatesof
relaxation”Thereadingscomeprimarilyfromtheoccipitailobethatisthesiteofthevisual
cortex.Alphawaveswerealsofoundtoincreaseinsomeindividualsbyelevatingtheeyesand
diminishedordisappearedbyopeningtheeyesorconcentratingvisualattention(McLaughlin,
56~AppendixBshowsnormalbrainwavepatterns,aneyeblink, andabnormalpatterns
associatedwithdifferentdisorders.AppendixClistsothercommoneyephenomena.
NursingresearcherBarbaraLindley-Davis,PhD,writesaboutthedefiningcharacteristics
ofdyinginherarticle”TheProcessofDying”.Herfocuswasonwhatshecalledtheterminal
phaseofdyingorthelastfewdaysofdying(asopposedtosudenunexpecteddeath).Shestates
thattheterminalphasebeginswhenthedyingindividualstartstoturnfromtheoutsideworldand
withdrawsintotheinternalself.Thisispartofanaturalbodyprocessandsignalsthatenergyis
tobeconserved(329).Asthephysicalbodycontinuestoshutdownseveremuscularweakness
setsinfromlackofnutrients,andascarbondioxidebuildsupthebrainbecomeslesssensitive.
Visualacuityandothersensesdiminishwithhypoxia.Inanefforttoconserveenergyterminal
patientsoftenchoosenottoparticipate,andthiswithdrawalisnotnecessarilyrelatedtofearof
death,depressionorspiritualdistress.Aspertainstotheeyes,a”blankstare”isoftenpresent
andthepupilsmaybecomefixedbeforeorafterrespirationsandheartstop(p.329-32).Incases
ofsudendeaththepictureissomewhatdifferentasdescribedbySherwinNulan,M.D., inHow
WeDie(p.122):
“Clinicaldeathhasadistinctivelookaboutit.Afewseconds’observation
ofthevictimofcardiacarrestoruncontrolledhemorrhagewilldecidethe
appropriatenessofattemptsatresuscitation.Shouldanydoubtremain,thereare
theeyestoconsider[italicsmine]. Ifopen,theyareatfirstglassyandunseeing,
butifresuscitationdoesnotcommencetheywillinfourtofiveminutesyieldup
theirsheenandbecomedulle,asthepupilsdilateandforeverlosetheirwatchful
light. Itisasthoughathinclou-grayfilmhasbeenlaiddownovereacheye,so
thatnoonecanlookwithintoseethatthesoulhasfled. Itsroundedplumpness
17

havingdependedonsomethingnolongerthere,theeyeballsoonflattensout,just
enoughtobenoticeable.Itisaflatness fromwhichthereisnorising.”
BarbaraDavis, anR.N., describesthescenarioaswell:
“Afteryou’vesatwithdyingpatientsoftenenough, youUnderstandthat
somethingbeyondhumancomprehensionoccurs whenthelastbreathis
expelled… Thebodydeflateslikeaballoonwithapinpointleak. Onlythe
patient’s eyesreflectthedramaofthischange. Firstthegazefixesonsomething
nearby, perhapsalovedoneintheroom. Thelifespark-that moistsparklewe
aresoaccustomedtoseeing-clouds over.Thentheeyeslookawaytofocuson
someothervision,oneweinattendancecannotshare.”(Davis, 39)
Inaditiontotheglassyappearance,thecloudyeyes,andfixedstare,onemightseeeyesrolling
upwardinthesocket,staringupattheceiling,oradullvacantstare.
NonverbalCommunicationandtheEyes:WhatCantheEyesTellus?
Thecentralityoftheeyeinnonverbalcommunicationencompassesitsdualroleas
‘sender’ andreceiver’.Infacereading theimportanceoftheeyeiseclipsedonlybythewholeof
theface.InthelectureonCountenanceSchroeder-Shekerspokeofhowwelearnthegrammar
ofthefaceaschildren, andthatthefaceisthefirstmeetinggroundwithanotherthroughwhich
ourinteriorworldismadereadable(Schroeder-Sheker,”Countenance”). This”facereading”or
physiognomyreferstothefaceoraperson’s countenance,andthe’reading’ ofthefacewasthe
practiceofdeterminingcharacterandcharacteristicsfromtheformorfeaturesofthebodyand
particularly theface.Itisaveryancient practice datingatleasttothetimeofMosesaccording
toTalmudicreferences(Harris, 116)andtoatreatisebyAristotle(c.340,BCE). Hildegardof
Bingen(1098-1179) wroteaboutthethoughts ofthebrainbeing ‘vented’ orrevealed bytheeyes,
ears,mouth,andnose(Berger, 71).21 Lavater, considered themodem founder ofphysiognomy,
wrote inhisbookHowtoJudgeMenbyTheirFacialFeatures (1780) ofthefacial expressionof
fear:
18

“Wide-openeyesanddilatedpupilsindicatefear….Theseeyescast
earthwar,theseamsalongthecheeksandforehea,thecompressedlips,thedry
mouth,thepale,bilious,tensefacialexpressionandthedark-ringedeyesproclaim
fear.”(inKielhoIz,751)
InExpressionsofEmotionsinManandAnimals(1872)Darwinobservedsimilaritiesbetween
someanimalandhumanexpressions. SinceDarwin,physiognomyhasshiftedfromfacial
.morphologytostudyofthebiological/ instinctualbasisoffacialexpressionsandtheemotional
contentoffacialexpressionascommunication«,This”modemphysiognomy”hasblossomedinto
thefieldofnonverbalcommunication’ asevidencedbythefollowingaertisementfora
.nonverbalcommunicationtrainingvideoseries:
“Thefaceisthe”organofemotion,”andweconstantlyreadfacial
expressionstounderstandwhatothersarefeeling.Thefacecontainspowerful
clues…Oureyesrevealimportanttruthsaboutus,eventhosewewouldpreferto
conceal. ..Ourfacesareadynamiccanvas,oneinwhichemotionsaredrawn
vividly,thensudenlyerase,onlytoberedrawninanewexpressionaninstant
later. Thefaceisperhapsthemostpowerfulchannelofnonverbal
communication.We’encode’messagesinourownfacialexpressions,andwe
simultaneously’decode’thefacesofpeople aroundus.”(ExploringNonverbal
Communication;TheFace:Emotions,Ideities,andMasks,DaveArcher,
UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz)
Whatbeganinthe1960’sbasedonsimpleobservationhastodayevolvedintotheprecise
technicalmeasurementsandanalysisinvolvingpupilsizemeasurement,EEGs,measurementof
facialmuscleactivitywithelectromyography(EMG),videoanalysis,subjectself-reportsand
interviews.Ethologistsandpsychologistsstudyinghumanfacialexpressionhaveattemptedto
analyzeandcorrelatethemwithvariousemotionallabels.Theresearchhasexaminedpupillary

changesandemotions,linguisticsandfacialexpressions,emotiontheory,andattemptsto
correlatefeltemotionswithfacialexpressions.
Ithasbeenfoundthatmanyofourexpressivegesturesareintrinsicandpresentatbirth.
Throughobservingthreetofiveyear-olds(becausetheyweremoreuninhibited),researchers
defined80expressiveelementsthatarisefromthefaceandheadand55fromthebodyand
19

limbs.Ofthe80facialelementsdefined, 44werefoundtobeproducedbytheeyesandupper
face(BranniganandHumphries,406).22AppendixD,NonverbalCommunicationCues,contains
someofthespecificfindingsregardingtypesoffrowns.Movingfromthe’larger’facial
expressionsandmorespecificallytotheeyes,theworkofEckhardH.HessattheUniversityof
Chicagofocusedonpupillarysizeandchanges.23,24Hess(andothers)showedinnumerous
experimentsthatpupilresponsecanbeaverysensitiveindicatorofcertainmentalactivities.The
followingisabriefsummaryofHess’findingsregardingthesizeofpupilsinrelationtoattitudes
andcommunication:
1.Pupilsdilatedinresponsetopositiveorpleasantexperiencesandconstricted
withunpleasantexperiences
2.Thepupilsrespondtostimuliaffectingothersensessuchastasteandhearing-
dilationwithpleasant,constrictionwithunpleasant
3.Inlisteningtotapedmusicthepupillaryresponsetomusicwasalwayspositive
Variationsindegreeofresponsewerenoteddependingonindividualmusical
preferencehowever.(Attitudes,52)
4.Pupilsizeincreaseswithproblem-solvingmentalactivity(arithmetic)andonly
begintodecreasewhentheanswerwasverbalized.
5.Whenpeopleseelargepupilstheirpupilsenlarge,andwhensmallpupilsare
seen,theirpupilsconstrict(Role).These+/-responsestopupilsizewerefound
ininfantsasyoungasthreemonthsandcorrelatedwithsmilingbehavior(117).
Largepupilsize,eyecontact,anddirectexchangeofgaze,alsoincreasedthelikelihoodofbeing
chosenasworkpartnerinastudybyStassandWillis(inHess,Role,112).Thesestudies
seemedtoconfirmthatwhichthewomenoftheMidleAgeswhousedthedrugbelladonna
(meaning’beautifullady’)intheireyeknewaboutlargepupils—itdidmakethemmore
appealing(Hess,1965,50).
InhisbookKinesicsandCoextRayBirdwhistellattemptedtoapplylinguisticsto
nonverbal communicationandlikenedthecomponentsoffacialexpressionstothesounds,
syllables, wordsandgroupsofwordsthatfunctionaslanguage(inHarris,80).). Hearguedthat
although high-speedcamerascouldrevealseveral hundreddiscriminablepositionsintheclosing
ofaneyeli,undernormalconditions,peoplecanonlydiscriminateelevendifferentpositions,
20

onlysixofwhichwere’meaningful’.Thesixlidpositionshefelthadspecificcommunication
valueare:open-eye,droopy-lided, squinting,eyessqueezedtight,justopen,andclosed(in
Harris,71).Birdwhistellalsowarnedagainstdeveloping”dictionaries”andgeneralizationsof
‘this’means’that'(Harris,80).TheworkbypsychiatristSilvanTomkins(1962,1963)inhis
theoryofemotionarguedthatthefaceisthekeysiteofemotion.” Heheldthatwithexperience
ofanemotionaseriesofeventsoccursincludingneuralmessagestofacialmusclescausing
variouscontractionsorrelaxation.Healsoheldthatthereareuniquefacialconfigurations
associatedwitheachoftheprimaryaffects(excepthappiness)thatinvolvethebrows,theeyes,
andthemouth. Becausesomeoftheseconfigurationsmaybepartial,blendedwithother
configurations,orbeextremelybrief(calledmicrofacials,lastingaslittleasone-fifthofa
second),understandingfacialexpressionsstillproveddifficult(Harris,119-21).
Outofresearchrelatingemotionsandfacialexpression,anumberofsophisticated
systemsweredevelopedthatanalyzediscreetfacialactions.TheFacialActionCodingSystem
(FACS)ofEkman, Friesen,andWallace(1976,1978)iswidelyuse,particularlyinstudies
regardingpainanditsassociatedbehaviors.” ResearchbyPrkachinusingtheFACS$foundthat
therearefourdistinctfacialindicatorsofpain:eyebrowlowering,eyeclosing,orbittightening
(squeezingeyesclosed),andcheekraising.Thestrengthofhisfindingssuggestthatthis_
constellationoffacialgesturesmaybeabasicsignalthatisuniversalforpain(inEkmanand
Rosenberg,192-3,472). Fromthisworkmanyhospitalshaveadoptedafacialexpressioncoding
systemtoassesslevelsofpain. Tessler, etal,usingtheChildFacialCodingSystemstudied
expressionsofpaininchildren. Theyfoundthatwithreportsofmoderatetoseverepainthat
closedeyeswasoneofthefivemostfrequentlyobservedbehaviors.i/ Intheirstudy.![,ofadult
pain,Craig,etal,notedtheimportanceofsuchsignalsforthoseunabletoreportpainsuchas
infants,thosewithintellectualhandicaps, andthelike(inEkmanandRosenberg,473).
21

AccordingtoAlbertMehrabianinSileMessages,”inthecommunicationoffeelings,
thewords account for7%oftheimpact,vocalcuesproduce38%,andfacialexpression 55%(in
Harris, 83).Asachiefsensory receptor,whichiseasilyobservablebyanother,theeyecanreveal
much.Other findings ofinterestfromnonverbalcommunicationresearchinclude:
1.Direction ofgazeislikelytosignalthatwhichisofierest(Harris,124)
2.Insocialinteractions:ataninformationprocessinglevel,eyeswillbeaverted
toavoidfeedback-when apersondoesnotwantmoreinformationorwantsto
think,theymaycloseoffstimuli(italicsmine,Buck,69)
3.Duringnormalconversation, peoplelookdownduringpausestothink
(Goffman,84),andeyecontactdecreaseswhentouchysubjectsarebroughtup
(inHarris, 126).
4.Eyegaze/contact:individualsmonitoroneanother’sperceptions. Such
monitoringoftheother’sdirectionofgazegivesnotonlyanindicationastothe
socialaccessibilityoftheotherbutalsohisorherdesireforcontinued
interaction. (Goffman,inBrugoon, 502)
5.Eyegazemaybemayberegardedaspartofasociallysharedvocabularyof
relationalcommunication.Interviewees withhighlevels ofgazewereconsidered
themostcomposedandinvolvedanddescribedasexpressing moreaffiliation,
trustworthiness, interest,involvement,relaxation,positiveaffect,competence,
sociability, anddynamism.(Burgoon,etal,500-1)
6.Higheyecontact(nearlyconstantgaze)communicatesahighdegreeoftrust,
caringandattraction;itcanconveyimmediacyordominance,persuasiveness and
aggressiveness …However,therearegenderdifferences…constantgaze
promotesintimacybetweenfemalesandreticencebetweenmales;gazeaversion
producestheoppositeeffect(EllsworthandRoss,1975)…andthepossibilityof
ambiguityaboutthefunctionsand/orinterpretationofgazeinaparticular
interaction. (Burgoon,etaI,502)
7.Potentialmeaningrelatedtoeyecontact,”peopledecreaseeyecontactwhen
negativeaffectsarebeingexpressed”(Kendon,1967,inBurgoon,504)
8.”…saess …facialactionswehaveproposed forthisemotion:innercornersof
thebrows drawntogetherandupwards,cheeksraise,slightdeepeningofthe
nasolabialfol,andslightdepressionofthelipcorners-AUs 1+4+6+11+15).
(EkmanandRosenberg,471)
9.”…Observerswillcallanexpressionshameascomparedtoembarrassmentif
theheadandeyesaredown,withnovisiblefacialactivity.” (Ekmanand
Rosenberg,471)
10.EmbarassmentsignalaslabeledbyKeltner:”…requireschangesingaze
directiorand headmovement, andperhapsfacetouching.” (inEkmanand
Rosenberg,137)
11.”Whenwesaythatsomeone’seyesaresoft,hardbeady.cold orwarm,wearein
mostinstancesreferringonlytoacertainaspectoftheperson’seyes:thesizeof
thepupils.” (Hess, Role, 110)
12.”…pupildilations occurduringrecognitionordetectionofvisualstimulithatare
nearthevisualthreshold.” (HaberemandSutton,inJanisse,241)
22

———————————————–
MusicThanatologyandtheEyes
In”MusicfortheDying”ThereseSchroeder-Shekerwrites,”…verylittleverbal
communicationtakesplacebetweenthepatientandthepractitioner.Mostofthecommunication
isnonverbal,streamingthroughtheeyes,themusic,andthemediumoftouch(42).Attheoutset
ofthispaperIhadhopedtodiscoverspecificeyemovements,qualities,characteristicsandthe
eyecomponentsoffacialexpressionsthatcouldbecomeasortoflexiconforalanguageofthe
eyes.Insteadofalexiconandlanguageoftheeyes(inspiteoftheamountofinformationIhave
gathered),Idiscoveredthephysicaleye,theeyeofthesoul,theeyeoftheheart,themind’seye,
thethirdeye,theimaginaleyeandsecondsight. Ihavealsocometounderstandonadeeper
levelmyeducation/formationprocessasamusic-thanatologist. Wehavebeenlearningto
developcapacitiesofphenomenologicalawareness;insight,andunderstanding.Thisprocesshas
beenaboutlearningtopayattention-to payattentionandseewithneweyes.
Nonverbalcommunicationtheoryandresearchhascompiledvastamount’ofinformation
asregardsfacialexpressions,theeyes,andcommunication.Findingsrelatedtogaze(direction
andintensity),eyecontact,pupilsize,andtheeye/facialmovementsassociatedwithfacial
musclesandstructuresmayprovideinsightintoourpatient’semotionssuchas:raisedeyebrows
andsurprise,theloweredinneroroutercomerofthebrowsindifferentkindsoffrowns,andthe
fullnessofeyeandsurroundingstructuresinsmiles(SeeAppendixC:NonverbalCuesfor
aditionalindicators).Ontheotherhandnonverbalcommunicationhasmuchtosaytousas
music-thanatologistsandaboutourfaceandeyes.Eyecontacthasbeenshowntobeanindicator
orinvolvement,engagement,andinterest. Abilitytomaintaineyecontacthasbeenindicatedas
asignofcompetenceandconfidence.Morereasonsto”getoffthestrings!”Developinggreater
andgreaterabilitytolookupfromourstringsandtheoverlapofthesenseswillenablemusic-
thanatologistsnotonlytoseemorebuttohearmoreandknow mort?aswell.
23

Intheactualvigilwithdiagnosticinformationwe maybeginwithseeingthephysical
bodybeforeus.Wemake notefinjuries, dressings, patternsofskincoloration, thequalities
andcharacteristicsofrespirations, countenance, andwhetherthepersonisawake ornot.These
willbenotedontheobservation formandintheclinicalnarrative. Themorewelook,themore
wewillsee!Iftheeyesareopen, wemaygather inforrnationregarding metabolicprocesses
(jaundice, cloudiness, …),branfunction(visual trackingornot),presenceorabsence,and
possiblythenearnessofdeath.Thephysical cantellusagreatdeal,butduetomedications,
disease, andthemultiple meanings offacial expressions (Burgoon, 497)themessagesaremixed.
Inacursory examination of55clinical narratives theeyeswerementioned in47ofthe55
narratives (85%). Overhalfofthereferences (53%) indicated onlythattheeyeswereopen(13%)or
closed (40%). Theremaining 47%inthe”otherstatements” category included theeyesrolling up,
back, down, orcrossingandrolling; anunfocused stare, blinking openandfalling closed, distant
andglazed, looking upandbeyond; intense, hardeyes; lonely eyes;focused, intent, bright,
sparkling, andscanning. Some striking statements fromthose narratives follow:28
“Isense herlackoffocusinthisworld…Hereyeswillfocus onanyonewho
moves, whojoinsorleavesthemusical field.”
“Hiseyesglazed overintorest.”
“…witheveryin-breathM’seyesopen, thenclose.Hereyesaredistant, glazed
yetsheisnotunconscious.”
Hiseyesopenandthefamily alerts…aniecespeaks, ‘It’sallright, N,”
“…anxiety onherface…butbeautiful clear, blueeyes…atthebedside she
Welcomes mewiththose beautiful, blueeyes.”
“herslateblueseyeswiden andcomealive.”
“anyextramovement orunexpected noiseintheroom brings Rbackinto
hiseyes.”
Istheremoreforustosee?Areweunaware ofmessages andmeaning? Asbeginners with
ourgreater attention tothestrings, arewemissing cuesandclues: Wemustnotonlylookbutalso
‘see’,asinthefollowing:
24

“…patient’sbloodpressuredropped.just abit-nothingdramatic,butZsaw”thelook”
inhiseyes[italicsmine]. Ifyou’renotattentivetoapatient,youmightmissit.The
lookisfleeting,frightening,unlikeanyother…Whenhe:realizedwhatI’dseen,we
begantocommunicatewithoufwords.Iputmyfingersonhischinandliftedhishead
uptomeetmyeyes.ThenIwhisperedfrommysoul,”No,notyet.”Helookedbackas
iftosay,”It’sOK,I’mreadytoletgo…”(McKinney-Hammon, 37).
Andifwelook, whatmightwesee…eyesthatare:
Open:engaged, present,frightened
Closed:pain,toomuchinformation, conservingenergy,thinking,”problem”-
solving,movingon
Half-closed
Cloudy:metabolicdisturbances,thebodyshuttingdown
Rolledup.apneaandCheyne-StokesrespiratiollSr!J .
Roving:intactbrainstem,butisinformationblockstohighercenters?
Bright,sparkling,clear:oonscious.tiglimpseofthemysteriouslifeofthesoul;the
intimacyofeyecontactandcommunicationwithoutwords;”IandThou,,29
Lookingdown:thinking,remembering
Lookingaway: uncomfortable, thinking, remembering,’seeing’eventsanew,
seeing’something’new
Lookingoutawindoworjustfaraway:aretheyhereandnothere?
Canwesee,physicallyandimaginally,moreanddescribewithgreaterspecificitytheeyesand
facialexpressions?
Asmusician-cliniciansatthebedsidewerelyonoursenses-alltwelveofthem!-to
informusaboutthepersonforwhomweareplaying(Sardello,”TwelveSenses”). Perhapsthe
greatest”seeing”wedoiswiththeinner’sightormind’seye.Thediagnosisgivesusonepicture
ofdiseaseprocesses. Thebodysystemphenomenologyofearth,air,fire,andwaterinthe
alchemicalbodyaspresentedbySardello(“ImaginationoftheBody”), andKenThorp’s
phenomenologyoflight,heat,anddark(alsoearth,air,fire,andwater)giveanother. This
clusterofdiagnosticinformationandsymptomatologyarecombinedinourinteriorcrucibleto
extracttheinformationofbody, soul,andspirit.
Wehavebegunanongoing process ofdeveloping spiritualcapacitiestoseebeyond the
physical, hearbeyondtheaudible, andknowbeyond theconcrete. Weareseekingtodevelop the
eyeoftheheart,tobecome seers, andlikeJacques Lussyranrelyuponinnersight. 30″Because of

mybliness,1haddevelopedanewfaculty. Strictlyspeaking,allmenhaveit,butalmostall
forgettouseit.Thatfacultyisattention…Indee,attentionisnotsimplyavirtueofintelligence
ortheresultofeducation, andsomethingonecaneasilydowithout. Itisastateofbeing…Inits
truestsenseitisthelisteningpostoftheuniverse.”(AgainstthePollutionoftheI,p.31)
“Sensingistheactivereachingouttomeettheworl,notjustlettingitcomeintoourorgansof
sensing.Theworkforusistobecomeconsciousinoursensing”(Sardello,TwelveSenses).
Conclusion
“Isee.””Let’ssee…””Letmesee…””We’llseeaboutthat!””Wedon’tseeeyeto
eye.” 1istoknowaseyeistoknow. Papercorrectionsare’re-visions’.
Inthispaper1haveattemptedtoexploreandexpandmyunderstandingoftheeyeinaway
thatisbothphysicalandimaginaI. Likethehermeticphilosopherswhocommunicatedwith
illustrations”aimedatman’s intuitiveinsight”(Roob, 102),lamseekingtoincorporatenewand
differentunderstandingsoftheeyeandvarious”means”ofvisioninmylifeandwork. Ifindthat
IambecomingmoreattunedtohowIknow—withthemind’s eye,theeyesoffaith,aninner
eye,theeyeoftheheart.Myprocessofgrowthinphenomenologicalawareness,insight,and
understandinghasbeenliketheHinduprocessof”eye-unclosing”asdescribedbelow:
AccordingtoHindubelief,theeye(akshi)isregardedasareceptive,neutral
organ,exceptwhenintentisadedtoseeing.Itissaidtobethelastorganto
comeintoactivity,sincethechildwithinthewombemploysallitsorgansexcept
theeyes,whichitopensonlyafterbirth.Onthisanalogy,sculptorsusedtogive
thefinaltouchtoanimageaftertherestwascomplete,inaritualoperation
callednayononmilana(‘eye-unclosing’). Thechiselingoftheeyeimagewas
precededbyaperiodofmeditationandprayer, followed bytheriteof
‘enlivening’theidoI.(Walker, HinduWorld, inCavendish)
WhatIseeandhowIseeismuchlarger today. Iseeina’newandlivingway’. 31
Whatdotheeyeshavetosaytothemusic-thanatologistatthebedside? Dowealready
knowthe’languageoftheeye’atanunconscious levelasshown bypupillary changes-s-our ‘gut
26

feelingsconfirmedbyexperiment?Canwelearntobemoreastuteobserversand’readers’ofthe
facesbeforeus?Idobelievethattheeyescanconveymanythings, yetthereisgreatdealof
ambiguity.Forexample,”eyeclosing”maybetoogeneralsinceitisrelatedtopain,thinking,
problemsolving,remembering,avoidance,unpleasantemotions,fatigueandconservationof
energy, decreasingincomingstimuli, andthewithdrawalthatispartoftheterminalphaseof
dying.Perhapsthereismoreeyeclosureneartheendoflifebecause”theeyetakesusintothe
worl,thatitconstantlythrustsforwardanddistractusfromself-knowledgeandthewayinward.
Itdissipatesattention”(Berendt,28).Perhapsthedownwardgazeofourconsciouspatientsis
saess,thegriefoflettinggo,orembarrassmentastheylievulnerableingownsinthepresence
ofstrangers.Canwelearntoseefineeyemovementsrelatedtodistantfocusperhapsindicating
thatourpatientsarenotlookingthroughusbutperhapsbeyondus?Beyondthegrimacesand
wincesofpain,aretheremessagesfromthethresholdofsurprise,wonder,andrecognition?
Whatofthedramaticchangesintheeyeatdeath?InmyresearchIdidnotfindcomplete
explanationsforthechanges,butconnectionscanbemadeinthoughtandimagination.Inthe
“glassy,unseeingeyes”Ihaveseenatthebedsideatthetimeofdeath(orcessationofheartand
respirations)thereisnoreflectionofthat”littledoll”intheblacknessofthepupil. That
‘miniaturesoul’oncethereisnolongerpresent. Thestaringupattheceilingandtherollingup
oftheeyesseemtooccurwhenallmuscletoneisgone-thefirehasgoneout,thelifeforce
depleted. Inthatmoment thebalanceoftheautonomicnervoussystemsislost,thedark
physiologyengulfsthebodybutthepupildilates'”. Paradoxically,intheeyes,itappearsthatthe
lightphysiology signals death. Atdeaththe’light’disappearsfromtheeye.Physiologically,the
dull,cloudy eyesmayberelatedtothecessationofthecellularpumpsthatrenew theaqueous
humor, theslightflattening oftheglobe. Orperhaps, itisthelightofthesunreturningtoits
27

source,thecosmicgiantandcreatorPurusa,justasatdeaththebodyandsoulreturntothe
primordialhuman(RgvedalO.90)—body,soul,andspirit?
Inpoetryandliteraturetheeyeisoftenreferredtoasthewindowofthesoul. Lovers
spendcountlesshoursgazingintooneanother’seyesinwordlesscommunication.Theeyehas
multiplelayersofmeaningandimportance. Itistheorganofvisionhelpingustoknowthe
worldaroundus,andoftenthefirstmeansofcommunicationwithanother.Anthropologists
reportthattheprincipleformofrelaxationforagroupofpeopleinLiberia,theMende,is
‘looking’.Whenrelativesvisittheysitquietly,withoutspeakingjustlookingateachother,and
then”theireyeswalkaround”(S;A. Boone,inHuxley,26).
Theworkofmusic-thanatologycallsthemusician-cliniciantoseewithneweyes.I
dedicatethispaperandthefollowingpoemtoallmusic-thanatologistswhoserveatthebedside
ofpeoplewhoaredyingandwho’walkaround’ withthem.
WithThisSmallKey
WiththissmallkeyIsoftlyshallunlock
Thewideroomsofyoursilence
andstandclearofthelabyrinthofhurtandshock,
Safeintheacresofaspeechlessland;
Knowingifyoubutholdmeinyourthought
Iamwellhouse,
Ifinyourinmostheartyouspeakmyname,
Iamsuperblytaught
Thoughgirdersofallknowledge. break:apart
Ihadnotdreamedthatanymortalweather
Wouldblowmealoveasgraciousandaswise
NorallthelarksofAprilsingingtogether
Matchthebravebeauty ofyourquieteyes;
Beyondallfriendshavegivenoflightandgrace,
.33
Ihavebeenblessedbylookingonyourface.

NOTES
1.Reich,Alice,PhD.”ThinkingAnthropologically”,classhandout,Fall,2000.Chaliceof
ReposeProject,Missoula,MT.
2.Schroeder-Sheker,Therese.”AnointingtheDyingwithSound”. Caduceus,40(1998):21-
27.Schroeder-Shekerdefinesthetermmusic-thanatology.
3.Schroeder-Shekerlecturedoncountenance,physiognomy,”facereading”,geographyofthe
soul,andthebiographyoftheface.Lecture:”ImaginationoftheBody:Countenance.”
Fall,2000.
4.Phenomenology-Asystembasedontheanalysisofphenomenaasintuitiveessencesof
intentionalcharacter…thedescriptivestudyofexperiences(RandomHouseDictionary,1969)
5.Sourceofquoteunknown.HeardinclasswithDonnaMaeMiller,PhD,Fall,1973;
UniversityofArizona,Tucson,AZ.
6.”TheSeerandtheSeen”isborrowedfromthetitleofFrancisHuxley’sbookintheArtand
Imaginationseries.
7.Theideaofavision-basedgesturallanguagewaspresentedinarticlesbyLauraSpinney,and
BranniganandHumphries.
8.Citationsforfacialexpressionsincludephysicalandemotionalwell-being(1Sam14:27;Ps
38:10),enlightenment(Ps19:8),delight(Ezek24:16),humility(Ps123:2),sympathyorpity
(Deut7:16;19:13,21;25:12;Ezek16:5),generosity(Prov22:9;Mt6:22)alossof
understanding(Job17:7),grief(Ps6:7;31:9;88:9;119:136;Jer9:1),arrogance(2Kg9:22;
Ps18:27;Prov6:17;21:4;30:13;Is5:15;37:23),lackofsympathy(Prov28:27;Mt13:15),
lackofphysicaloremotionalwell-being(Deut28:65;Job17:7),greed(1Sam2:29,32),
stinginess(Prov23:6;Mt7:22),envy(Mt20:15),mockery(Ps35:19;Prov30:17),cunning
anddeceit(Prov6:13;10:10;16:13,30),hatred(Job16:9),lust(Ps73:7;Prov17:24;Eccles
2:10;Ezek6:9;Mt5:29;2Pet2:14;1Jn2:16),andflirtation(Is3:16) ~~~ACROCOSM: Genesis
():C~~.;’i~f ~/
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Thefirstdayof
creation:
“Letthere be
light, saidGod;
andforthwith
light/( …)Sprung
from thedeep;
andfromher
native east/To
journey through
theaerygloom
began,! Sphered
inaradiant clou,
foryetthesun/
Wasnot(…l.”
(John Milton,
Paradise Lost1667)
Thedoveisthe
spiritofGod.
“The uncreated
light ofthespirit
reflected inthe
sphere ofthefiery
firmament asina
mirror, andthe
reflections intheir
turn,arethefirst
manifestations of
createdlight.”
R.Fludd, Utriusque
Cosmi, Vol.I,
Oppenheim, 1617
107

nests
Whenthesinking,
NoN.
hotraysofthesun
Theemergence of
encounter rising,
theearthly world
watery steam,
from the”dark and
theycondense and
gloomy waters”,
giverisetothe
from thechaos
planets.
(No.55)inwhich
.-,
Lucifer-Saturn was
-t
imprisoned after
hisfallfrom the
heavenly World of
(
light.After the
j
division oflight
,J()~
anddarkness
.,~7.
(No. 56+57).God
(Elohim) created
I
theseven element-
aryregions ofthe ./
I
universe from the
outermost fiery I
watersoflight
(Shamayim) tothe
It innermost central
fire,the” grimThespirit ofGod
mire”, inwhichhovers asadove
.
AT
Lucifer dweltsabove perfect
t.
/
,
untilthedayofcreation, which is
judgement.alreadymenaced
bytheFall.Inthe
GeorgvanWelling’Tract atusapolo-
(pseudonym ofqeticus ‘,Flud
“!
Gregorius Anglusemphasized that
5allwigt), Opusthechief goalof
meqo. cabalisticum,macrocosmic
Frankfurt, ‘719study mustbeto
study theroleof
thedivine spirit in
creation. forwith-
outthelight erna-
natingfrom this
spirit, lifeisnot
Apossible.
“2 MACROCOSM: Genesis
r;
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II.Fludd,Utriusoue
Cosmi, Vol.I,
Oppenheim. 1617

-enesis
Thesequence by
whichtheele-
ments areordered
inanascending
degree ofpurity-
earth, water, air
andfire-is
repeated inthe
structure ofthe
entire cosmos
from thesublu-
nary,elemental
heavens, theethe-
real heaven tothe
smpvre an,
Thestarsonthe
outeredge ofthe
ethereal sphere
onlybecame
visible withthe
creation ofthe
sun,fortheystore
itslight andaftera
space oftimeemit
itagain likephos-
phorous. •
R.Fludd,Utriu,que
Cosrn], Vol.I,
Oppenheim, 1617
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“Theperturba-
tionsattendant
oncreationhad
causedsomeof
thecelestial light
tobetrapped in
thecoldmass of
thecentral earth.
Obeying thelaw
ofgravity,this
celestial substance
begantorise
towards itsright-
fulplaceinthe
heavens, andit
wasthusthatour
sunwasformed.”
Inthefirmament
thesunisthe
visible represent-
ative ofthedivine
fireandoflove. Its
corresponding
partinthehuman
bodyistheheart,
“which emits its
vital rays(rhe
veins) inacircle
fromthecentre,
andthusanimates
eachindividual
limb”. (Robert
Flud, Philosophi-
callKey,c.161g)
R.Fludd, Urriusque
Cosmi, Vol.I,
Oppenheim, 1617
111
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3.The eternal Father ofallthings, being
notlesswiseintheordering,thanpower-
fulinthecreation,oftheworld, has
madethewhole universe tocohere by
meansofsecretint1uencesandmutual
subjection andobedience, thingsbelow
being analogoustothings above, and
viceversa;sothatbothendsoftheworld
arenevertheless unitedbyarealbondof
naturalcohesion. ThusHermestellsus
thatthingsbelow arethesameasthings
above, andthatthingsaboveareanalo-
goustothingsbelow. 4.Hewholooks
uponnatureasanything buttheconstant
expression ofCod’s willisanatheist;
everysmallest part ofthegreat universe
isconstantly vit.rlizedandconserved by
,I 174
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ThePrimary OocyteorSpermatocyte
Ifthe’red’ mortificationsymboliz
thereversedcourseofthefirstmatur
tiondivision (meiosis),itsfigureofge
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AppendixC:BedsidePhenomena
Bulgingorprotrudingeyes-exophthalmos -oftenrelatedtothyroiddysfunctionandGrave's
disease;disturbanceofmetabolism
Swollen,puffyeyes-CHF,headtraumaand/or brainsurgery
Sunkeneyes-enophthalmos-theabnormalrecessionorsinkingbackoftheeyeintheorbit;
associatedwithdehydrationanddepletionoftheorbitalfatpadsinmalnutrition(andwiththe
elderlyanddying);dropintheverticaleyeposition isusuallypresentaswell
DilatedPupils-COPDanduseofbronchodilators(SNS); someBPmeds
SmalIIPinpoint Pupils-pain, painmedicationsespeciallyopiates(morphine); cough
medicines–codeine. (Lehne);pupilsgetsmallerwithaging
YellowSclera(andskin)-Jaundicerelatedtogallbladerand/orliverdisease
Eyestapedshut-toprotectthecorneaandkeepitmoist; withheavysedation,anti-anxiety
medsandmechanicalventilation, orbraininjury; eyesnotclosingalltheway
Unequalpupils-usuallyrelatedtobraininjuryortumor(Oyster,433)
Rovinglateraleyemovements(slow)-coma, intactbrainstem;incomatose,maybean
indicatorofmetaboliccause(Bradley, 51)
Cloudy/milkycornea/iris-metabolicabnormalities
Eyesrolledup-Apnea, Cheyne-Stokesrespirations, brainstemischemia; upwardeyedeviation
(Bradley,51) .
Eyesrolleddown-Hepaticcoma(liverdysfunction)(Bradley,51)
,Parkinson'sDisease-decreasedblinking,littleeyemovement,mask-likefaceorappearanceof
fixedstare
Confuse,distressedeyesearching-withCVAdiagnosis, damagetothetemporalregion
(especially therightside)canresultinlossoftheability torecognizehumanfaces-even
familiarones(Wilson, 713)

;.

AppendixD-NonverbalCues..
1.Eyebrows
Frownorscowlasinanger, concentration,displeasure,orthought
Todepress,knit,pucker,orwrinkle thebrowbycontractingthecorrugator,procerusand
orbicularisoculimuscles(Givens)
-Angryfrown:childrendraweyebrowsdownparticularlyfromtheinnerends;
-Sadfrown:eyebrowsaredrawndownattheouterendstoproduceasadfrown
(Brannigan)
LoweringEyebrowsisasensitiveindicatorofdisagreement, doubt,oruncertainty;
eyebrowsareloweredtoprotecttheeyes.andcanbeequivalentto'emotionallockdown'
(Givens)
EyebrowRaiseasafacialexpression-archingtheshorthairsabovetheeyes-asin
uncertainty,disbelief,surprise,orexasperation.Elevationoftheeyebrowinvolvesthe
contractionoftheocciptofrontalismuscle.
Adsintensitytoafacialexpression;canstrengthenadominantstare,exaggeratea
submissive'pout', orboosttheenergyofasmile(Givens)
'Flash'-aquickraiseandloweringofbrow,mayindicateinterestoremphasison
words(BranniganandHumphries,407).
2.Eyelids-widenedaccompanyexcitement;maysignal'fightorflight'
Narroweyelidsmayindicatefeelingthreatened(Givens)
3.Eyesclosed-Closeeyelidsconveyunpleasantfeelings(Givens)
4.AvertedGaze-Conveysunpleasantfeelings(Givens)
5.NegativeFeelings-associatedwithdoubtormisunderstanding(i.e.,cognitivedissonance)
quicklypassfromthelimbicsystemtothehindbrain'sfacialnucleus(CranialnerveVII),
whichtriggersabriefnarrowingoftheeyes
6.Pain-Quick-tightening ofeyeorbitalmuscles (orbicularisoculi); wetensetoshowpain
(PrkachinandCraig,1995,inGivens)
7.PositiveorProvocativeFeelings-openedeyelids, dilated pupils, anddirectgaze(Givens)
Eyes-"Movements,lidposition, andpupilsizerevealagreatdealaboutoutemotions,
convictions,andmoods. Gazedirectionclearlyshowsotherswhereourattentionlies.Wegaze
backintoeyesofourbeholderstogaugetheirfeelings.However, beinglookedatsoarousesthe
SNSthatwemayfeelcompelledtoglanceaway(Givens,"eye"). Facialexpressionprovides
keysocialandemotionalinformation. Weprobeeachother's eyesforpositiveornegativemood
signs(Givens). Facialexpressionsandbodilygestureareusedasamoreprimitivemeansof
humancommunicationthanwords…itsunitsarenotwordsbutexpressions-facial, gestures,
andbodypostures…usedtoexpressattitudesandemotions.(Brannigan andHumphries, 406)
FascinationwithEyes-Weareenthralledbyeyes.Fromthemomentofbirthwerespondto
ourmother'seyesasifprogrammedtodoso.Babiessmileatblackgeometricspots-perceiving
themas"eyes"bysixweeksofage(Givens)
EyeContact-Inadultseyecontactshows personalinvolvement andcreatesintimatebonds
(Givens).

TomkinsandMcCarter:PrimaryAffectsandFacialResponses
1.Interest-Excitement:eyebrowsdown, eyestrack,look,listen
2.Enjoyment-Joy:smile,lipswidenedupandout,smilingeyes(circularwrinkles)
3.Surprise-Startle: eyebrowsup,eyesblink
4.Distress-Anguish:cry,archedeyebrows,mouthdown,tears,rhythmicsobbing
5.Fear-Terror:eyesfrozenopen,pale,col,sweaty, facialtrembling, withhairerect
6.Shame-Humiliation: eyesdown, headdown
7.Contempt-Disgust:sneer, upperlipup
8.Anger-Rage:frown,clenchedjaw,eyesnarrowe,redface
(Tomkins,SilvanS.andMcCarter,Robert. "Whatandwhereatetheprimaryaffects?
Someevidenceforatheory." PerceptualandMotorSkills, 1964, 18,119-158; inExploring
Mfect:SelectedWritingsofSilvanTomkins,EVirginiaDemos,editor)