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Sanpaku eyes are going viral \u2014 again \u2014 and the internet can\u2019t stop diagnosing people because of them. The eye trait, which shows extra white either above or below the iris, has sparked everything from TikTok explainers to armchair psychoanalysis. But what do sanpaku eyes actually mean, and why are people so fixated on them?<\/p>\n
The term \u201csanpaku eyes\u201d comes from Japanese and translates to \u201cthree whites,\u201d referring to when more of the sclera (the white part of the eye) is visible than usual. In Western medicine, the same feature is called \u201cscleral show,\u201d and it\u2019s typically considered a neutral physical trait. It can be inherited, appear with aging, result from injury or illness, or even occur after cosmetic procedures like blepharoplasty.<\/p>\n
Most people see their iris centered, with white visible only on either side. Sanpaku eyes describe cases where white shows either below the iris (called yin sanpaku) or, more rarely, above it (yang sanpaku). The concept originates in Japanese face reading, a form of physiognomy \u2014 the practice of assigning personality traits based on physical features.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where the mythology kicks in. Traditionally, yin sanpaku was believed to signal inner imbalance or physical turmoil, while yang sanpaku was associated with aggression or emotional volatility. But experts stress these interpretations are rooted in superstition, not science.<\/p>\n
Not at all. Research measuring eyelid position in healthy individuals found that nearly half showed some degree of visible white below the iris, averaging about 0.4 millimeters. The amount varies depending on anatomy, including how far the eyes sit forward in the socket. In other words, sanpaku eyes are simply one of many normal variations in eye shape.<\/p>\n
Celebrities often get pulled into the conversation. \u201cSinger Billie Eilish<\/strong>, Diana Ross<\/strong>, Marilyn Monroe<\/strong>, James Dean<\/strong>, Twiggie<\/strong>, Princess Diana<\/strong> and President John F. Kennedy<\/strong> all have or had this trait,\u201d body language expert Patti Wood<\/strong>, author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma<\/em>, told First for Women<\/em> in 2023. She adds that while sanpaku is a mystical tradition, science points to genetics and health factors, including thyroid conditions.<\/p>\n Still, yang sanpaku \u2014 white above the iris \u2014 tends to fuel darker internet theories, especially when paired with infamous figures like Charles Manson<\/strong>. Some online sleuths have even claimed murder suspects have \u201csanpaku eyes,\u201d reinforcing the idea that eyes reveal hidden danger.<\/p>\n \u201cLong before we had the science of body language, people were already \u2018seeing things\u2019 in the eyes,\u201d says Wood. \u201cThat\u2019s because eyes are the first part of the body we look at \u2014 they\u2019re a key indicator of one\u2019s emotional state and can signal the next action a person may take by what they\u2019re looking at or focusing on.\u201d<\/p>\n Research supports that instinct. Studies from Cardiff University show people can judge traits like compassion or competence within milliseconds, according to retired FBI profiler Joe Navarro<\/strong>, author of Be Exceptional, per First for Women.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe whites of the eyes are the first thing I notice when I look at police photos or a \u2018perp walk,\u2019\u201d Wood explains. The unnerving, wide-eyed glare seen in some criminals triggers our fight-or-flight response, a reaction Navarro calls \u201creptilian indifference.\u201d \u201cMany psychologists\u2026 talk about the fact that when they\u2019re in the presence of a true psychopath, they react viscerally to the coldness of their stare,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Thankfully, true psychopaths make up only about 1% of the population. The real takeaway? As Navarro puts it: \u201cTrust your gut.\u201d Whether sanpaku or not, your instincts matter more than an internet diagnosis.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Science Behind \u201cEye Reading\u201d<\/h2>\n