A common question is what happens to a person’s eyes at the moment of death, specifically whether they roll back. This image is frequently depicted in popular culture, leading to a widespread belief. Understanding the actual physiological processes clarifies this misconception.
The Myth of Eyes Rolling Back
The dramatic image of eyes rolling back into the head at death is largely a theatrical portrayal rather than a physiological reality. When a person dies, the muscles controlling eye movement cease to function. This means a coordinated “rolling back” action, which requires muscle contraction, does not typically occur. The eye muscles relax upon death, leading to the eyes settling into a neutral or slightly divergent position. Any post-mortem eye position is a passive consequence of muscle relaxation, not an active movement.
What Really Happens to the Eyes
Upon death, the body’s muscles undergo a relaxation phase. This affects the ocular muscles, causing the eyes to settle into a relaxed state. The eyelids may remain partially or fully open, or they might close due to muscle relaxation; sometimes they stay open, giving a “death stare.”
Subsequent changes involve the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye. Within approximately two hours after death, the cornea can become hazy or cloudy, increasing in opacity over the next day or two. This clouding, known as corneal opacity, is a measurable change forensic experts use to estimate the time of death. If the eyelids remain open, the exposed sclera (the white part of the eye) can develop yellow or brownish triangles, known as “tache noire,” due to drying and debris accumulation.
The pupils, normally reactive to light, become fixed and dilated after death as the body loses oxygen. Intraocular tension, or pressure within the eyeball, decreases significantly, causing the eyeballs to lose firmness and appear sunken within the orbit.
Sources of the Misconception
The misconception of eyes rolling back at death often stems from dramatic portrayals in media. These depictions frequently exaggerate physiological responses for theatrical effect, creating an inaccurate visual in the public consciousness. Anecdotal accounts or misinterpretations of post-mortem changes may also contribute to the myth. For instance, a slight upward drift of the eyes due to muscle relaxation, or partially open eyelids combined with a fixed gaze, might create an illusion of the eyes being rolled back. Cultural beliefs and superstitions surrounding death can also influence how people perceive these post-mortem observations.