Eyes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most common eye shapes are round, almond, oval, upturned, downturned, close-set, and wide-set. However, some rare and unusual eye shapes also exist. In this article, we will explore what the rarest eye shape is, looking at the different options and analyzing which one appears least often in the population.
What Factors Determine Eye Shape?
Multiple factors contribute to eye shape, including:
| Factor | Description |
| Genetics | Genes passed down from parents greatly influence the shape of the eyes. |
| Ethnicity | Certain ethnic groups tend to exhibit characteristic eye shapes. |
| Bone structure | The underlying bone structure around the eyes impacts their shape. |
| Muscle structure | The muscles around the eyes can pull them into different forms. |
| Eyelids | The shape and prominence of the eyelids help form the overall eye shape. |
These factors lead to natural variation in eye shapes among the population. The rarest shapes arise from unique combinations of these genetic and structural influences.
Common Eye Shapes
Before determining the rarest eye shape, let’s review some of the most prevalent:
Round Eyes
Round eyes are circular with the length and width being fairly equal. They feature smooth, rounded corners rather than sharp angles. Round is considered the most common eye shape.
Almond Eyes
Almond eyes have an almond-like shape that is widest in the middle and narrows slightly at the outer and inner corners. The outline is smooth rather than angular. Many Asian ethnicities typically have almond eyes.
Oval Eyes
Oval eyes are ellipse-shaped, featuring a smooth oval outline. They are wider at the center than the ends. Oval eyes are also quite common among a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
Upturned Eyes
Upturned eyes angle upward at the outer corners. This eye shape often makes people appear cheerful and youthful. Many East Asian ethnic groups exhibit upturned eye shapes.
Downturned Eyes
Downturned eyes point downward at the outer edges, which can contribute to a sad or stern appearance. This shape is seen in some ethnicities including Native Americans and Scandinavians.
Rare Eye Shapes
Now let’s explore some of the rarest and most unusual eye shapes that occur much less frequently in humans:
Diamond-shaped Eyes
Diamond-shaped eyes feature sharp, angular corners rather than rounded ones. Their outline resembles a diamond or kite shape. This distinct shape occurs rarely.
Square Eyes
Square eyes form a box-like shape with sharp, 90-degree angles at the corners. The top and bottom eyelids may appear flattened. Square eyes are very uncommon.
Rectangular Eyes
Rectangular eyes have a long, narrow shape with straight sides. They lack the rounded corners of oval eyes, appearing more geometric. Few people have these straight-edged peepers.
Cat Eyes
Cat eyes exhibit an almond shape that is drawn out at a sharper upward slant, resembling a cat’s eye. They appear narrowed at the inner and outer corners and elongated towards the temples. This feline eye shape arises infrequently.
Hooded Eyes
Hooded eyes have protruding, overhanging upper eyelids that droop over the corners. This can make the eyes appear small. Hooded eyes are distinctly rare.
The Rarest Eye Shape
After reviewing the options, the diamond eye shape appears to be the rarest eye shape that occurs in humans. Several factors contribute to this:
- Sharp, angular corners do not naturally occur often in eye shapes, which tend to be oval
- The diamond shape arises only from a unique combination of genetic and structural factors
- Ethnic groups around the world do not exhibit tendencies for diamond-shaped eyes
- Celebrities and others in the public eye very rarely demonstrate true diamond-shaped eyes
For these reasons, the angular, geometric diamond eye shape stands out as the rarest. Square and rectangular eyes may be a close second and third, respectively, in terms of rarity.
Genetics deals us all different cards when it comes to our eye shape. For those unique few born with striking diamond eyes, their rare, sharp peepers certainly give them an exotic air. So next time you meet someone with distinctly diamond-shaped eyes, know you are looking at a very uncommon eye characteristic.
Prevalence of Diamond-Shaped Eyes
It’s difficult to pin down exact statistics on the prevalence of diamond-shaped eyes. However, we can make some educated guesses:
- One study found that round and almond eyes together account for over 75% of eye shapes
- Celebrities, models, and public figures very rarely demonstrate true diamond eyes
- Public discussion and commentary on diamond eyes as a distinct shape is limited
- Certain ethnic groups show tendencies for upturned, downturned, oval, and round eyes
- Angular diamond eyes do not appear commonly in nature unlike oval shapes
Given these points, it’s likely no more than 2-5% of the global population has diamond eyes. Regionally the percentage may be even lower at 1% or less in many areas. There are no concentrated populations exhibiting this trait. So while sinusoidal waves are the rarest eye shape, they remain scarcely seen across the world.
Causes of Diamond-Shaped Eyes
What factors lead to the rare diamond eye shape? A few potential causes include:
| Cause | Description |
| Genetics | A rare combination of genes passed down from both parents. |
| Ethnicity | Some small ethnic groups may exhibit a higher rate of diamond eyes. |
| Development | During gestation, the developing eye takes on an atypical diamond form. |
| Structural factors | The internal structure or muscles surrounding the eye pull it into a diamond orientation. |
| Eyelids | Stiff, angular eyelids shape the eyes into a diamond appearance. |
Overall, diamond eyes arise from unique genetics and developmental factors that are uncommon in the general population. There are no specific environmental or lifestyle factors that cause them. The unusual diamond shape simply emerges as a rare manifestation of eye morphology.
Impacts of Diamond-Shaped Eyes
Does having diamond-shaped eyes affect a person’s health or vision? For the most part, there are no major impacts:
- Vision is typically unaffected, the eye functions normally
- No known vision disorders are specifically associated with diamond eyes
- Diamond eyes do not necessarily cause dry eye or other issues
- Contact lenses and glasses fit the same as with other eye shapes
- No health issues are linked to having diamond eyes
The main impacts are social rather than medical. Diamond eyes give a distinctive, exotic look that draws attention. Some may perceive diamond eyes as cold or severe due to their angularity. However, they can also impart an intelligent, alert appearance. Overall, there are no adverse health effects, just unique aesthetic qualities.
Celebrities with Diamond-Shaped Eyes
Since diamond eyes are so rare, very few celebrities have them. Those that do stand out for their striking, geometric peepers. Some famous names with diamond-shaped eyes include:
- Clara Bow – Her sharp, angular eyes added to her exotic, vamp appearance
- Tyra Banks – This supermodel’s eye shape complements her strong bone structure
- Cindy Crawford – Her diamond eyes give her an edgy, high-fashion look
- David Bowie – The singer’s icy diamond eyes added to his otherworldly persona
- Jason Momoa – His angular eyes align with the actor’s rugged features
These celebrities demonstrate how diamond eyes can be an alluring, attention-getting trait. Their examples also illustrate just how rare it is to have this eye shape, even among models, actors, and musicians.
Conclusion
In the menagerie of eye shapes that occur in humans, the diamond form stands out as the rarest. Its sharply angular corners simply do not arise often from natural genetics and development. Almond, oval, round, upturned, and downturned shapes occur more frequently across ethnicities. But the diamond eye shape appears only in isolated cases, likely no more than 2-5% of people globally.
So if you happen to be one of the unique few born with angular diamond-shaped eyes, know they are a genuinely uncommon trait. Your geometric peepers give you a distinctive, exotic look. Celebrate your rare eye shape which adds to the diversity of human features!
