Why Do We Have Eyebrows And Eyelashes?

Eyebrows and eyelashes serve important functions and protect our eyes every single day!

You see them every time you look in the mirror, but you probably don’t think about them very often. And when you do start thinking about those seemingly random furry patches on your forehead known as eyebrows or the delicate hair coming out of your eyelids known as eyelashes, they seem kind of strange! So what is their purpose anyway?

Eyebrows And Eyelashes Help Safeguard Our Eyes

Most of you probably already know that the real purpose behind our eyebrows and eyelashes is to protect our eyes. But today, we want to explain in detail exactly what that means!

Eyebrows

The first, and most obvious, function of eyebrows is to keep our eyes clear of liquid, such as sweat or rain. The brow’s arch shape diverts liquid around the eyes and to the sides of our face, keeping any water or salty sweat out of our eyes. It’s not something you think about all the time, but the next time you work out and end up sweating buckets, just be grateful that your eyebrows are keeping all of that out of your eyes.

Eyebrows also serve an important social function, helping us express ourselves to other people. We can tell people we are surprised, angry, sad, happy, confused–all with the help of our eyebrows. In fact, according to a study done at MIT, our eyebrows are one of our most distinctive facial features and without them, people may have a hard time identifying us!


Eyelashes

Your eyelashes have a similar purpose. Not only do they do their best to direct liquid away from your eyes, they also keep sand and debris at bay. And just like a dog or cat’s whiskers, they are highly sensitive to the touch. This means that if something is coming too close to your eye, you will feel them at your eyelashes first, giving you extra time to close your eyes against any oncoming danger.

As it turns out, nature has given us mammals the perfect length of lashes! Eyelashes are the ideal length for protecting our eyes from debris and keeping them moist and comfortable. Any shorter or longer and your eyes could be more susceptible to dust particles and dry eye.

Do You Have Any Other Eye Questions?

Are you curious about any other parts of your eye or their functions? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page. We love answering your questions!

Thank you for being such wonderful patients!


The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Ask about our BOGO Deal!

Qualifying contact lens purchases are eligible for FREE polycarbonate single vision lenses

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Pittsburg

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Girard

Monday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Fort Scott

Monday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Locations

Find us on the map

  • "We see Dr.Kannar & Dr.Jacquinot often, myself, my husband and my son love them both and their staff. They are all great people! I highly recommend them!"
    Heather P.
  • "Dr Painter see both my husband and myself she is very pleasant and takes very good care of us she always take time to explain and makes sure our needs our taken care of."
    Brenda B.
  • "I went to the office in Girard and saw Dr Painter. The whole office is Wonderful! Very friendly and caring. My glasses are perfect! Won't go anywhere else!"
    Linda M.
  • "Pittsburg is lucky to have you Dr. Kannarr (as am I ) Thanks for everything you do for your patients!"
    Becky O.

Featured Articles

Read up on Informative Topics

  • Stress and Vision

    Did you know that your eyes are an extension of your brain? There are six muscles connected to each eye, and they receive signals from the brain. These signals direct the eyes movements and, thus, control their ability to focus. When you are stressed, your brain goes through a number of changes and signals ...

    Read More
  • Pain Management

    We take a lot of aspects of our vision for granted. We expect to see nearby and faraway objects clearly, even if we require our eye care provider to prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to do so. A huge degree of the information we take in about our world and our surroundings takes place visually, ...

    Read More
  • Nutrition for Eye Health

    Eating right is essential for keeping your body healthy. This is as true for your eyes as it is for your heart. A diet that is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and is low in saturated fat, can reduce your risk of heart disease. This will also keep your arteries healthy, so they can ...

    Read More
  • Lifestyle Practices for Eye Health

    Protecting your eyesight is an important part of staying healthy overall. Maintaining sound eye health will also help you preserve your quality of life as you age. To keep your eyes as healthy as possible, follow these simple lifestyle practices. Get regular eye exams. Some eye problems — including ...

    Read More
  • Glare and Halos

    Glare and halos are both eye symptoms that some people experience around bright lights. Halos show up as bright circles around a light source. Glare is light that interferes with your vision, making it difficult to see or sometimes making your eyes water. These symptoms can show up at any time of the ...

    Read More
  • UV Radiation and Your Eyes

    Optometry warnings about the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation on our eyes have not yet reached the degree of public awareness of that of skin damage. Yet, the sun can be just as damaging upon our eyes with unprotected exposure. Short-term exposure to very bright sunlight can result in a type ...

    Read More
  • Lazy Eye

    Lazy eye, also referred to as amblyopia, is a condition that develops in infancy or early childhood, and it typically starts when the focus in one eye is more enhanced than the other. The eye with less focus might be impaired due to a significant amount of farsightedness or astigmatism, or something ...

    Read More
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology

    Ophthalmology addresses the physiology, anatomy and diseases of the eyes. Pediatric ophthalmology focuses on the eyes of children. Pediatric ophthalmologists examine children’s eyes to see if they need corrective lenses or other treatments to improve their vision. Training for Pediatric Ophthalmologists Pediatric ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: Can Contact Lenses Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays?

    Could your contact lenses help you avoid eye disease? ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: How Your Environment Affects Your Eyewear Choice

    Are you wearing the best eyewear for changing environments? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up