There a two main differences between the male and female periorbital area: size and protrusion.
Size
Male eyes often appear smaller due to the fact that males, on average, have higher cheekbones and nasal bridges than women.
High cheekbones and nasal bridges are also survival traits: high cheekbones means the eyes and brain (as the zygomatic arch is higher) are better protected, high nasal bridge means the eyes are better protected as well.
When the cheekbones are higher, the lateral canthus and lateral portion of the lower eyelid is higher relative to the upper eyelid, making the lateral portion of the eye look smaller as there is less scelera visible. When the nasal bridge is higher, the medial can thus and medial portion of the eyelid is higher relative to the upper eyelid, making the medial portion of the eye look smaller. When both lateral and medial can thi are higher, the entire lower lid is higher.
Brad Pitt has high cheekbones and nasal bridge, and, as a result, his canthand lower lid are higher relative to the upper eyelid, making his eyes look smaller.
Compare that to Angelina Jolie, who has low cheekbones and nasal bridge:
And just to avoid the accusation of cherry-picking pictures:
Protrusion
Male eyes often appear less protrusive or exposed than female eyes, but this difference is an illusion created by surrounding bones.
#1: Glabella/brow ridges
This difference is the most well known. The frontal sinus (cavity behind the glabella) enlarge as a result of testosterone, which makes the glabella more prominent relative to the eyes. This makes the eyes appear deeper set:
vs
#2: Nasal bridge
I rarely see this talked about here, but has a big impact on how deep set the eyes appear. Males tend to have more prominent or protrusive nasal bridges than women, which makes the eyes better protected.
vs
#3: Supraorbital rim
This is perhaps the most favorite but least understood aspect on this forum. The male supraorbital rim tends to be more prominent and extends farther past the eyeball than the female’s. This again makes the eyes better protected and appear deeper set. However, it also plays a big role in how “hooded” the eye is, or how much the upper eyelid is covered by fat. The more prominent the supraorbital rim is, the more forward positioned the fat pad will be relative to the upper eyelid, covering it more with fat.
Compare DiCaprio’s side profile to Winslet’s. Their fat pads are about the same size, but DiCaprio’s Supra orbital rim is much more prominent, and his eyelid is thus more concealed by the upper eye fat pad.
Quick note: brow ridge has no impact on hooding. Upper eye fat pads are located under and slightly behind the Supra orbital rim.
The only factors impacting hooding are supraorbital rim projection and fat pad size/descent path.
Asians tend to have little supraorbital rim prominence, but their upper eye fat pad descends anterior to the upper eyelid regardless of rim projection, most likely as a response to cold environment.
Asian eye:
Prominent supraorbital rim:
There are many ways to spot this difference. Asian fat pad will go straight down as opposed to backward like Barrett’s. Asian eye will appear less deep set as the supraorbital rim is actually lacking prominence as opposed to Barrett’s, which is very prominent. And the eyebrows will be much more forward relative to the eye when the Supra orbital rim is prominent, unless they are so arched that they sit above the Supra orbital rim.
#4: Zygomatic
This one also isn’t talked about a whole lot. Not sure yet if this is a dimorphic trait, but it certainly is a survival trait. “Forward grown zygos” means that the zygomatic process of the temporal is long, thus making the zygomatic more forward positioned relative to the eyeball, which makes the eyeball better protected. Also a youthful trait as the zygomatic process of temporal recedes as we get older, making thepositioned farther back relative to the eyeball.
When this happens, the lateral can thus and lateral portion of the eyelid are more forward to the eye, making it appear deeper set. Also contributes to “positive orbital vector”.
Vs
#5: Eyebrows/eyelashes
Males have thicker, more dense, lower brows than women, making the eyes better protected. Again, not sure about the dimorphism of eyelashes, but long, thick eyelashes also make the eyes better protected, and are a sign of youth/fertility.
Somewhat thick eyebrows can also be attractive on women as they are a sign of testosterone/high sex drive:
#6: Canthal tilt
Forgot to cover this. Females tend to have sharper infraorbital rims. This means the nasal bridge is lower relative to the zygomatic, creating higher degrees of PCT. Male eyes are closer to neutral tilt due to higher nasal bridges.
Male:
Female:
Vs
Size
Male eyes often appear smaller due to the fact that males, on average, have higher cheekbones and nasal bridges than women.
High cheekbones and nasal bridges are also survival traits: high cheekbones means the eyes and brain (as the zygomatic arch is higher) are better protected, high nasal bridge means the eyes are better protected as well.
When the cheekbones are higher, the lateral canthus and lateral portion of the lower eyelid is higher relative to the upper eyelid, making the lateral portion of the eye look smaller as there is less scelera visible. When the nasal bridge is higher, the medial can thus and medial portion of the eyelid is higher relative to the upper eyelid, making the medial portion of the eye look smaller. When both lateral and medial can thi are higher, the entire lower lid is higher.
Brad Pitt has high cheekbones and nasal bridge, and, as a result, his canthand lower lid are higher relative to the upper eyelid, making his eyes look smaller.
Compare that to Angelina Jolie, who has low cheekbones and nasal bridge:
And just to avoid the accusation of cherry-picking pictures:
Protrusion
Male eyes often appear less protrusive or exposed than female eyes, but this difference is an illusion created by surrounding bones.
#1: Glabella/brow ridges
This difference is the most well known. The frontal sinus (cavity behind the glabella) enlarge as a result of testosterone, which makes the glabella more prominent relative to the eyes. This makes the eyes appear deeper set:
vs
#2: Nasal bridge
I rarely see this talked about here, but has a big impact on how deep set the eyes appear. Males tend to have more prominent or protrusive nasal bridges than women, which makes the eyes better protected.
vs
#3: Supraorbital rim
This is perhaps the most favorite but least understood aspect on this forum. The male supraorbital rim tends to be more prominent and extends farther past the eyeball than the female’s. This again makes the eyes better protected and appear deeper set. However, it also plays a big role in how “hooded” the eye is, or how much the upper eyelid is covered by fat. The more prominent the supraorbital rim is, the more forward positioned the fat pad will be relative to the upper eyelid, covering it more with fat.
Compare DiCaprio’s side profile to Winslet’s. Their fat pads are about the same size, but DiCaprio’s Supra orbital rim is much more prominent, and his eyelid is thus more concealed by the upper eye fat pad.
Quick note: brow ridge has no impact on hooding. Upper eye fat pads are located under and slightly behind the Supra orbital rim.
The only factors impacting hooding are supraorbital rim projection and fat pad size/descent path.
Asians tend to have little supraorbital rim prominence, but their upper eye fat pad descends anterior to the upper eyelid regardless of rim projection, most likely as a response to cold environment.
Asian eye:
Prominent supraorbital rim:
There are many ways to spot this difference. Asian fat pad will go straight down as opposed to backward like Barrett’s. Asian eye will appear less deep set as the supraorbital rim is actually lacking prominence as opposed to Barrett’s, which is very prominent. And the eyebrows will be much more forward relative to the eye when the Supra orbital rim is prominent, unless they are so arched that they sit above the Supra orbital rim.
#4: Zygomatic
This one also isn’t talked about a whole lot. Not sure yet if this is a dimorphic trait, but it certainly is a survival trait. “Forward grown zygos” means that the zygomatic process of the temporal is long, thus making the zygomatic more forward positioned relative to the eyeball, which makes the eyeball better protected. Also a youthful trait as the zygomatic process of temporal recedes as we get older, making thepositioned farther back relative to the eyeball.
When this happens, the lateral can thus and lateral portion of the eyelid are more forward to the eye, making it appear deeper set. Also contributes to “positive orbital vector”.
Vs
#5: Eyebrows/eyelashes
Males have thicker, more dense, lower brows than women, making the eyes better protected. Again, not sure about the dimorphism of eyelashes, but long, thick eyelashes also make the eyes better protected, and are a sign of youth/fertility.
Somewhat thick eyebrows can also be attractive on women as they are a sign of testosterone/high sex drive:
#6: Canthal tilt
Forgot to cover this. Females tend to have sharper infraorbital rims. This means the nasal bridge is lower relative to the zygomatic, creating higher degrees of PCT. Male eyes are closer to neutral tilt due to higher nasal bridges.
Male:
Female:
Vs