Sanpaku Eyes Explained: Why the Internet Links Them to Psychopaths and Celebs

Sanpaku eyes are going viral — again — and the internet can’t stop diagnosing people because of them. The eye trait, which shows extra white either above or below the iris, has sparked everything from TikTok explainers to armchair psychoanalysis. But what do sanpaku eyes actually mean, and why are people so fixated on them?

The term “sanpaku eyes” comes from Japanese and translates to “three whites,” referring to when more of the sclera (the white part of the eye) is visible than usual. In Western medicine, the same feature is called “scleral show,” and it’s typically considered a neutral physical trait. It can be inherited, appear with aging, result from injury or illness, or even occur after cosmetic procedures like blepharoplasty.

What Are Sanpaku Eyes, Exactly?

Most people see their iris centered, with white visible only on either side. Sanpaku eyes describe cases where white shows either below the iris (called yin sanpaku) or, more rarely, above it (yang sanpaku). The concept originates in Japanese face reading, a form of physiognomy — the practice of assigning personality traits based on physical features.

That’s where the mythology kicks in. Traditionally, yin sanpaku was believed to signal inner imbalance or physical turmoil, while yang sanpaku was associated with aggression or emotional volatility. But experts stress these interpretations are rooted in superstition, not science.