Kissing with eyes open

| Originally Published: September 3, 1999 - Last Updated / Reviewed On: February 20, 2009
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Dear Alice,

My boyfriend kisses with his eyes open. I've heard you are not supposed to trust people who kiss with their eyes open. I naturally kiss with my eyes closed (except to peek occasionally to see if his eyes are open). What's up with kissing with your eyes open?! What does that mean?

Dear Reader,

Maybe it means that your boyfriend wants to see whom he's kissing! Maybe he's doubly turned on because his visual sense is getting stimulation, too. Or, is there something a little alluring about trying things differently? Could the rest of us be missing out here because we've been told by friends or movie stars that you're "supposed to" kiss with your eyes shut? It's true that visual input can also be distracting, so closed eyes when kissing does allow for the fuller touch and taste sensations that give smooching its mass appeal. Why not try it with eyes open the next time you're together? The really close eye contact might be freaky at first, but there's also the potential for an even more intimate experience. At a minimum, you'll be trying to learn more about what makes your partner tick.

Now, if the boyfriend is watching T.V. or keeping an eye on the clock when orally engaged, he's not giving you his undivided attention. That might raise your eyebrows about his less-than-complete respect and intimacy, more than it does concerns about trust. If this is the case, using your tongues for talking about it might ease your angst.

Despite what you've heard, there are no technical kissing rules. You could suck face and knit sweaters at the same time, as long as you're caring for one another in the process.

Alice

February 5, 2009

21317
Hi Alice,

I'd just like say, when my current boyfriend and I started dating, he kisses with his eyes open and it did freak me out a little. But then I tried and found it better because I felt more...

Hi Alice,

I'd just like say, when my current boyfriend and I started dating, he kisses with his eyes open and it did freak me out a little. But then I tried and found it better because I felt more connected to him when we shared our gaze. Try it and see what you like best. Who know, you may even like it with your eyes open!

July 1, 2008

21462

To the reader:

I personaly kiss with my eyes open. I don't know why and its hard for me to keep them closed for too long. But I recently learned that only 30% of couples can kiss with thier...

To the reader:

I personaly kiss with my eyes open. I don't know why and its hard for me to keep them closed for too long. But I recently learned that only 30% of couples can kiss with thier eyes open. And that its a good thing it means that you both have a good connection. Eyes are the windows to your souls so when kissing with your eyes open it just means that your souls are connecting. So don't be embaressed its a good thing. =]

April 1, 2008

21384

To the reader:

I have ALWAYS kissed with my eyes closed because I too heard the cliche that if you kiss with your eyes closed that you trust the other person. However, I am recently in a...

To the reader:

I have ALWAYS kissed with my eyes closed because I too heard the cliche that if you kiss with your eyes closed that you trust the other person. However, I am recently in a relationship with a man who, believe it or not, kisses me with his eyes open. Sometimes he does close his eyes, but I've found the eyes open to be quite erotic and intimate. The first time I noticed it, I was a little freaked...

May 13, 2005

20896
Hi Alice,

I love your column! On the question of kissing with eyes open, do what feels comfy! Sometimes either me or my boyfriend opens our eyes because we enjoy seeing how the other is enjoying...

Hi Alice,

I love your column! On the question of kissing with eyes open, do what feels comfy! Sometimes either me or my boyfriend opens our eyes because we enjoy seeing how the other is enjoying the kiss, and sometimes we look into each other's eyes when kissing (and doing other intimate stuff) and it really does draw you closer and make the experience more intense!

September 28, 2001

20381
Hello Alice, I just had a comment to say about Kissing with eyes open. You really don't need to have any worries about your boyfriend kissing you with his eyes open. Me and my girlfriend kiss with...
Hello Alice, I just had a comment to say about Kissing with eyes open. You really don't need to have any worries about your boyfriend kissing you with his eyes open. Me and my girlfriend kiss with our eyes open often. To tell you the truth, I think it is much more intimate that way. They say that the eyes are a passage to the soul, and looking into the eyes of your boyfriend/girlfriend while kissing is an excellent way...