Hi all, this isnt really an eye problem as such.. more of an annoying habit i've picked up to do with eyes, and may be quite interesting to others.

Eye contact - whats normal?

Some time ago i became aware of how i looked at people, maybe because of insecurity or something, i dont know... anyway...
The problem is this.. when talking to someone face to face i become instantly aware of what im looking at, ie am i looking at their right eye, their left eye, or am i looking at both? More to the point, if im looking at their right eye for example, then when they look at me do my eyes appear crossed to them?

Basically, i've fogotten how to look at people. Its turned from a subconscious act into a conscious one and its having an enormous inpact on my life. I turn away from people because i feel too self conscious that my eyes look odd to them. at the moment i'm favouring one eye when i talk to people, but is this normal? Is this what we normally do when talking to people or do we stare at both eyes?
When people stare back, ive noticed that they sometimes flick from one to the other.. is this because they've noticed something strange with my eyes or is this because its just what people do?

How can i turn this back into a subconscious thing?

This may sound like a joke or something but honestly its really beginning to affect my life...

Adi: You'll be pleased to know we had quite a lengthy discussion on this very subject. You'll have to dig for it though. Go back through the subject headings (it was clearly labelled what it was about) for the last year and you should find it.

T.

thanks for that :D i'll do a search..

I can definitly understand you insecurity about making I contact with others. I have this problem too, mostly because I have strabismus which means my eyes cross. My case is really bad because my eyes cross severely and its very noticable even from fare away. My whole life I've been afraid to look people in the eyes when I first meet them. I started to get better with it in high school until my eyes got worst. That just made me even more insecure. I find that squinting helps me look at people with more confidence.

Look at it this way. At least your eyes are straight, so that alone should give you more confidence. Good luck!

thanx for the reply natalie.. :)

straight or crossed though its still a confidence thing.. something which i'm sure both myself and you can conquer somehow..

Torre, i've searched for the discussion and cant find it.. can you remember what it was called?

There you go, Adi.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=172437