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Can you do this with your eyes? What is it?

54 replies

Peachmelbourne7 · 05/01/2023 22:10

Can anyone else do this with their eyes? I was chatting to my friends and this somehow came up- I was surprised they couldn’t do it as I honestly thought everyone could! Just thought I’d ask here!

2 things-

  1. one of my eyes can turn out without moving the other. It’s NOT like cross eyes or squinting my eyes inwards, one of my eyes stays straight and when I want to the other just goes out. I’m still focusing with both eyes, I’m just looking at 2 separate things and get a roaring headache from it. I don’t even know what changes or what I’m doing with my eye, I’m not defocusing them because everything is sharp in both eyes but I just do something and I can move my eye all the way out. Then I can move back it in and out again while keeping the other just looking straight and it looks quite cool haha. Weirdly I can’t make my eyes squint or cross in together like some people though, I can only move one eye out
  2. I can shake both eyes in a very very tiny way, not like moving them massively just very tiny movements in all directions, sort of like they’re shaking or shivering

can anyone else do these? And if so, do you know what’s behind it?

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 05/01/2023 22:10

No

and

no

I cannot do either of those things

Prisonbreak · 05/01/2023 22:12

I can shake mine

Screwcorona · 05/01/2023 22:13

I can shake them..it doesn't feel good though

primeoflife · 05/01/2023 22:13

My dh can!

Tallulasdancingshoes · 05/01/2023 22:13

No, can’t do either. But I’ve heard f my friends can shake her eyes. No idea how she does it.

BlackCatTabbyCat · 05/01/2023 22:13
  1. I had a friend when I was a teenager who could do this she had a squint as a child.
  1. This is my mum's party trick
Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 05/01/2023 22:13

The first one is exotropia (if I remember exo and eso right) which is the opposite of what most people think of as a squint (when the eye muscles turn in). Its easier for your eye muscles to compensate for it so they do most of the time unless you relax them. I have this too, and get headaches from it. You may need a prism in your glasses later in life to correct it if your muscles decompensate but this doesn't happen to everyone

TrishM80 · 05/01/2023 22:15

Not to my knowledge but can't say I've ever tried.

I've always been able to roll my tongue though but my 2 brothers can't. Apparently it's a genetic trait that half of people can do and half can't, but there's no explanation as to why!

Flowerfairy101 · 05/01/2023 22:15

I can shake my eyeballs, used to love doing it as a kid to freak people out but as PP says, not a good feeling!

megletthesecond · 05/01/2023 22:16

No.
And I don't want to try shaking my head to see what my eyeballs do either.

AutumnScream · 05/01/2023 22:17

My sister had crossed eyes/a squint as a child and can do both them things. Its related to a weakening in one of the muscles behind the eye.

LetsDoThis2023 · 05/01/2023 22:18

My mum can whizz her eyes round in very fast circles.

GuineaPorcus · 05/01/2023 22:18

Nope.

Skills OP!

Poppyseed14 · 05/01/2023 22:19

I can do the shaking thing. I don't know anyone else who can but it seems there are a few of us! The first thing I can't do.

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 05/01/2023 22:19

DS2 can do the first one. Well, he can turn his eye inwards, I assume he can also turn it outwards. Niece can also do it.

DS1 can do the second. He can also twitch his lower eyelids.

PurpleNebula84 · 05/01/2023 22:20

I can't do number 1

But I can do number 2.

I can also flick my eyelids inside out.

Spooce · 05/01/2023 22:20

Yes!! Finally a kindred spirit!

LetsDoThis2023 · 05/01/2023 22:21

The jiggling eyeballs is called voluntary nystagmus

dancinfeet · 05/01/2023 22:24

went to school with someone who could do the shaking eyeballs thing, often a source of playground amusement for her friends

MarmiteCoriander · 05/01/2023 22:25

Are you a chameleon OP??? 😀

No for me on both counts. Did you have a squint as a child? Any optic surgeries? Have you seen an optician?

Surely if you are an adult, you have realised before now that others can't turn one eye ball outwards without the other (unless they have a medical issue such as a squint)? Nor do other people shake their eye balls? Have you NEVER questioned this your entire life????🤔

hauntedvagina · 05/01/2023 22:27

I always wanted to be able to shake my eyes like Tanya Turner. Skills OP!!

MilkyYay · 05/01/2023 22:28

Ive known people who can do both those things but i can't do either.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 05/01/2023 22:29

No to 1. But I can cross my eyes and move one at a time which people find disturbing. But not without crossing them.

I can do 2. I'd forgotten about it until I read this!

Goosefatroasts · 05/01/2023 22:30

fuckinghell what a grim thread. I never knew so many people could shake their eye balls. That’s made me feel sick.

WarrenGRegulate · 05/01/2023 22:31

@GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut YES ME TOO 🤣 I thought I was the only one! I haven’t done this in years and I’m now sitting in bed doing it to check I can still do it!