6 Outstanding Eye Facts
1. Newborns don’t produce tears. Babies may make crying sounds, but actual tears don’t start flowing until they are between four and 13 weeks old.
2. Eyes use about 65 percent of our brainpower, more than any other part of the body. Proof that the eye is one of the most complex organs we have!
3. “Red eye” in photos occurs when light from a camera flash bounces off the back of the eye. The choroid layer at the back of the eye is rich in blood vessels. Light reflecting off of it makes the eye appear red!
4. If your eyes are blue, you share a common ancestor with every other blue-eyed individual in the world. Early humans all had brown eyes, until someone developed a genetic mutation that made their eyes blue.
5. The muscles that control your eyes are the most active out of all the muscles in your body. Your eyes are constantly making tiny jerking movements called “microsaccades.” Even when you think you’re staring at something unflinchingly, your eyes are actually moving involuntarily.
6. Eyes see an average of 24 million different images in a lifetime. 24 million! Take it all in.
This post originally appeared on AZ Eye Health.