Facial attractiveness is often linked to specific proportions and symmetries, with eye spacing playing a crucial role. Normal-set eyes—where the distance between the eyes is approximately one eye width—are generally perceived as more attractive in females compared to wide-set or close-set eyes. This preference is rooted in the concept of the “Golden Ratio,” a mathematical principle that defines ideal facial proportions.
Research indicates that female faces are judged more attractive when the horizontal distance between the eyes is about 46% of the face’s width, aligning with the Golden Ratio. This proportion contributes to facial harmony and balance, which are key factors in perceived beauty.
Additionally, averageness in facial features, including typical eye spacing, is associated with attractiveness. Faces with average distances between facial features are often perceived as more appealing, possibly because they represent a genetic diversity and health.
In summary, normal-set eyes contribute to facial symmetry and proportion, aligning with the Golden Ratio and the concept of averageness, both of which enhance perceptions of female attractiveness.
The Rhee et al. (2012) study discusses the relationship between interpupillary distance (IPD) and facial attractiveness.
Key findings are: Wide-Set Eyes Are More Attractive: Regardless of race, attractive faces tend to have relatively wide-set eyes compared to average faces of the same race. This is measured as the ratio of IPD to facial width: For attractive faces, this ratio is consistently higher than that of average faces across different racial groups.
Cultural Variations: The study acknowledges differences in the perception of beauty among races but notes that wide-set eyes are universally considered more attractive within each racial context.
It may be essential to note here that if both the inner and outer canthal distances are increased together(moving the eyes further apart) or ‘Hypertelorism’, this tends to indicate unfavorable genetics(Kulkarni et al., 1992). When you increase the external eye distance to achieve greater attractiveness in females, it must still fit with her general face shape and the topography of her other features.
References:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216144141.htm