What is the secret to giving someone a "bad look" or "sweet eyes"? Believe it or not, it all depends on the size of the pupils. Indeed, the researchers found that the emotions we feel about what we see affect the size of our pupils (welcome to the world of "pupillometry"). So, whether you want to intimidate an enemy or make someone fall in love, this article is for you.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Quick Dilation Techniques
Step 1. Imagine a dark room
Research carried out in 2014 showed that people are sometimes able to dilate their pupils by imagining dark shapes or scenes. Think of black bears storming a dark campground at midnight and you will notice that the pupils may widen momentarily.
Step 2. Focus on a distant object or stare at it without focusing
The pupils become larger as the eyes get used to a greater viewing distance. Another approach to this method is to suddenly blur your vision, blurring your vision as much as possible. If you are doing it correctly, your eyes are very relaxed; if you start seeing double, you've probably crossed your eyes and need to start over.
With these techniques, you are obviously unable to observe the behavior of your eyes, so you will need to take a video or have a friend check you out
Step 3. Approach a darker area of the room
As you probably already know, the pupils dilate to let in more light. If you can't darken your surroundings, you can still dilate your pupils by turning your back to the window or light source.
Step 4. Try to contract your stomach
Tighten your stomach and keep your muscles tense as you look in a mirror to see if your pupil size increases. Some people are able to dilate them in this way, although the mechanism that causes it is not yet known. If you don't see any changes after repeated attempts at muscle twitching, try a different technique.
Step 5. Imagine something that gives you an adrenaline rush
The pupils can greatly dilate when you are in a state of arousal and especially when you are sexually stimulated, due to the release of oxytocin and adrenaline. In addition to dilating the pupils, these chemicals cause thoughts in the mind to speed up, muscles to stiffen, and breathing becomes faster. Through biofeedback people can learn to "drive" their adrenaline levels to increase or decrease them.
Part 2 of 3: Powerful Dilation Techniques
Step 1. Use antihistamine eye drops
Take some non-prescription eye drops that are typically used to treat allergies. These eye drops can dilate the pupils. Be sure to read the instructions and never put more drops than recommended on the package.
Step 2. Drink an espresso or take some decongestants
Stimulants that act on the sympathetic nervous system can activate the muscles of the iris and dilate the pupils. These include caffeine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. The last three active ingredients are found in most over-the-counter decongestants.
Step 3. Consider taking 5-HTP supplements
These are over-the-counter medications that you can easily find in pharmacies or any store that sells supplements. Although this is generally a safe supplement, too high a dosage can cause dangerous "serotonin syndrome" effects. Never exceed the recommended dosage and completely avoid taking it if you are taking LSD, cocaine, antidepressants, large doses of vitamin B, or other substances that increase serotonin levels.
Step 4. Avoid taking other substances without your doctor's advice
Some prescription eye drops can dilate the pupils, but cause serious side effects that need to be evaluated by a doctor. If you are undergoing methadone treatment or have a condition that causes your pupils to narrow, you should contact your doctor for advice on how to counter this problem.
Some drugs also cause the pupils to dilate. They are usually illegal in almost all countries and can create additional health risks when combined with other pupillokinetic substances
Part 3 of 3: Shrinking Pupils
Step 1. Look at the bright, natural light
Look at a bright window for a few seconds. The pupils will immediately shrink. If you are outdoors, place yourself in direct sunlight instead of staying in the shade.
- While light from bulbs also works in this sense, natural light is certainly more effective.
- Never look directly into the sun, as this could damage your eyes.
Step 2. Focus very carefully on something near you
The pupils narrow as you shift your attention to something in front of your face. You can start by closing one eye and placing your finger in front of the open one. With practice, you can learn to focus near even when there is nothing.
Step 3. Consider taking medications
There is a wide variety of medications to narrow the pupils, but they are typically only available by prescription or otherwise administered only by a doctor.
For example, opiates narrow the pupils, but most of them are illegal in many countries. They can also cause severe damage, especially when combined with other drugs that narrow or dilate the pupils
Advice
- If you need to post a picture of yourself, such as to create an online profile for a dating site, you can change it to make the pupils bigger. Studies have shown that when men are shown two images of the same woman but a photo has been edited to enlarge the pupils, men find the woman in the edited photo to be more "attractive" and "more beautiful".
- The eyes tend to be lighter making the pupils more evident.
Warnings
- A dilation and constriction of the pupils caused by conscious effort can strain the eyes. Stop trying for a few days if your eye muscles are sore or contracted.
- The pupils narrow in bright light to avoid over-stimulating the nerves. Do not deliberately dilate them on a sunny day; if someone takes a picture with the flash or the lights come on suddenly you risk ruining your eyesight.
- Avoid over-the-counter medications that contain belladonna extract or atropine. They are dangerous and should only be administered by a doctor.
