Who has the biggest human eyes, how big are the biggest glasses in the world, and what is the best vision ever recorded? Here you will find honest answers and the most bizarre world records related to eyes, each with its source.
Key points at a glance
- We know of no official world record for the biggest human eyes or for the best eyesight. An eye test at an optician or eye doctor shows how well you see.
- According to Guinness World Records, the biggest glasses in the world are a pair 1.94 metres wide, made by Errold Jessurun in the Netherlands in 2004.
- Kim Goodman from the USA can pop her eyeballs up to 12 millimetres out of their sockets (Guinness World Records, as of 2007).
- According to German news channel n-tv, eye surgeons in Mainz corrected astigmatism of 40 dioptres with a custom-made artificial lens.
Biggest human eyes: who has the largest eyes in the world?
We know of no official world record for the biggest eyes in the world. How big human eyes look depends mainly on the shape of the eyelids, the distance between the eyes and the shape of the face. Glasses play a part too: plus lenses make the eyes behind them look bigger, minus lenses make them look smaller.
The most protruding eyes
There is a genuine eye record, though: according to Guinness World Records (as of 2007), Kim Goodman from the USA can pop her eyeballs up to 12 millimetres out of her eye sockets. This was measured on 2 November 2007 in Istanbul. It gives the phrase “eyes popping out of your head” a whole new meaning.
If your own eyes start to bulge, suddenly or gradually, or begin to look different in size, see an eye doctor.
The biggest glasses in the world
According to Guinness World Records, the biggest glasses ever made are a pair that Errold Jessurun built in the Netherlands in December 2004. These largest glasses in the world measure 1.94 metres across in total. Each lens is 68 centimetres wide and has a strength of +1.25 dioptres. To find out how glasses came about in the first place, read The History of Glasses.
World record for best vision: what is the best eyesight ever recorded?
Nobody officially records who has the best eyesight in the world, and we know of no recognised world record for the best human eyesight ever recorded. Good eyes are about more than sharp distance vision: near vision, contrast, colour vision and depth perception count too. An eye test at an optician or eye doctor measures how sharp your vision is, known as visual acuity.
Strongest glasses: how high can a prescription go?
What dioptres mean
The dioptre (D) is the unit for the refractive power of a lens. Minus values stand for short-sightedness, plus values for long-sightedness. An additional cylinder value indicates astigmatism. The higher the number, the stronger the lens. Contact lens prescriptions are given in dioptres too.
The strongest and thickest glasses
We know of no official world record for the strongest or thickest glasses. How high a prescription can go depends on the lens manufacturer, and very strong lenses are made to order. The higher the prescription, the thicker the lens: minus lenses at the edge, plus lenses in the centre. A smaller frame and thinner lenses with a higher refractive index help to keep the weight down.
An extreme case: 40 dioptres
A case from medicine shows how high values can get: according to German news channel n-tv, eye surgeons at the University Medical Center Mainz corrected astigmatism of 40 dioptres in a patient with advanced cataract. He received a custom-made artificial lens that took over the role of the eye’s natural lens. According to the report, standard artificial lenses had only been available up to 12 dioptres until then. So this was not a pair of glasses, but a lens inside the eye.
More bizarre eye world records
Some eye records are stunts rather than feats of vision. The figures come from Guinness World Records and reflect the situation at the time of each record; newer records are possible.
| Record | Who and where | When | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most eye tests in eight hours | Karur, India | April 2015 | 23,355 tests |
| Largest human image of an eye | Tiruchirappalli, India | November 2016 | 2,394 people |
| Largest googly eyes | Crew of the S.S. Legacy, The Dalles (Oregon, USA) | October 2017 | 122.07 cm |
| Five candles put out with milk squirted from the eye | Ru Anting, Beijing (China) | December 2006 | 17 seconds |
An eye made of 2,394 people
On 13 November 2016, 2,394 people lined up in Tiruchirappalli, India, to form the image of an eye. Another 461 participants formed an eyebrow next to it, but they did not count towards the record.
The biggest googly eyes in the world: from 62 to 122 centimetres
In 2014, the largest googly eyes measured 62 centimetres in diameter and were made by Steve Schnier from Canada. On 26 October 2017, the crew of the S.S. Legacy in The Dalles (Oregon, USA) beat this with 122.07 centimetres.
Milk from the eye
It took Ru Anting from China 17 seconds on 16 December 2006 in Beijing to put out five candles with milk squirted from his eye. Please don’t try this at home.
Records from the body and nature
The most active muscle
According to Guinness World Records, the eye muscles are the most active muscles in the body: they move around 100,000 times a day. Many of these fast eye movements happen at night while you dream.
Who has the most eyes in the world?
Not humans. According to Guinness World Records, the fish with the most eyes is the spookfish, with six. Besides its large main eyes, it has a second, smaller pair that helps it find its way in the dark. A third pair has no retina but directs incoming light into the main eyes. The fish lives in the north-eastern Pacific and was only discovered in 1958.
For more surprising facts about your eyes, read 7 Myths about Eyes: Fact or Fake News?
New glasses in our shop
Your next pair of glasses doesn’t need to break any records. It should fit well, suit your face and match your prescription. Here are some new frames from our shop.
Tom Ford FT5616-B 069£154.83
Isabel Marant IM 0276 086£158.80
Gucci GG2192O 002£171.34
Tom Ford FT6178-B 001£154.83
Ray-Ban RX5456 2012£68.54
Brendel BL 902458C 30£35.89
Isabel Marant IM 0276 807£158.80
Tom Ford FT6178-B 020£154.83Frequently asked questions
Are these records still valid?
Records get broken again and again. We give the status and year according to Guinness World Records. You can check directly with Guinness World Records whether a record has been beaten since.
Can you copy these eye records?
Please don’t. Stunts like popping eyeballs or squirting milk from the eye are show acts, not something to try at home. If something seems wrong with your eyes, see an eye doctor.
How can I find out how good my eyesight is?
With an eye test at an optician or eye doctor. They measure your visual acuity and, if needed, work out the right prescription for your glasses.
This article does not replace medical advice.
