I've read an interesting post on another site recently.  Actually it was the only thing I  found of interest on the site, the rest was foolishness about energy swords, blowing people up with energy balls and the like .  Anyhow, I digress.  The question was, do the eyes of a vampire differ from or hold more power than that of a person without our “affliction?  Normally I wouldn't give a question such as this much thought, however, I truly believe that the eyes are the windows to the soul.  Personally, I am big on eye contact.  I always look at a persons eyes when talking to them and I will meet the eye contact of people in passing.  To some this may seem intimidating or a sign of dominance which is not my intention, it is simply my means of seeing the real person not the portrayed person.  I'm wandering off topic again but I had to explain a bit about personal tendencies before I continue with the intent of this post. 

     I have been many places throughout the world and have had many comments about my eyes, most negative.  For example, while in Honduras the local employees and some village elders would not look at or talk to me due to the fact that I had “devil eyes.  We're not talking one or two here we are talking about all of them. Whenever I would walk past they would avert their gaze and some would mumble Ojos de Diablo, or whatever it is.  My Spanish is a little on the rusty side but I can swear fluently in 8 different languages.  My eyes have been described as dark, troubled, old (whatever that means) and one woman made the comment that they were interesting and intriguing (I haven't figured that one out either).  I don’t see myself as evil (or particularly interesting or intriguing, which to me is the same thing) and I am by no means an angel, but, devil, no. In the past I will admit I have done, and had to do things I am not proud of and that is mine to live with forever.  I can, at times, understand the troubled descriptor, but people for the most part, (males in particular, women tend to stare) have a hard time looking me in the directly in the eyes.  I'm not implying that this is a result of my nature, my empathic abilities or anything else and I may be simply loosing my faculties, but it does raise an interesting question.  Do other people see a difference in our eyes?  What do you think?  Am I mad?  My eyes by the way can be seen in my avatar (without the red). They are actually deep brown.  I may post the original photo later on.  Food for thought and discussion.

Raphael

I know what you mean. I do look people in the eyes and have noticed that when people are not being upfront they tend to look away when answering me. And then there are those who lie and look at me eye to eye without even thinking twice of what they are doing. Those people are difficult to read but eventually I catch them in their own lie.

And yes, I have been told that my glare is strong and judgmental. Especially when I first meet someone. And it is because I am trying to break them down and go with my feelings on their energy. So I think I know what you mean. I don't mean to do it it just happens and later on when they feel comfortable with me I usually get told that they thought I was mean or such a b*%ch.

I tend to speak with my eyes is what my husband tells me.

Many of my friends have told me that they feel uncomfortable when I fix my gaze on them.  They say my eyes are piercing and they feel like I can look right into their souls.  My eye color is green-blue.  Having worked with animals all my life, a great part of it with horses, I think I am just used to watching the behavior of the creatures I am working with.  Keeping my eyes sharp has saved me from many injuries in my life.  I can look into a horse's eyes and know right away if it is nice, or a stinker.  The eyes don't lie.  I don't know if it is because of who I am, but my eyes never miss anything going on around me
Sonni

I am real big about looking into peoples eyes when I talk to them. I guess you could say that it gives me the information that I need about a person. Alot of times it is too much information. People tend to be caught off guard when I do it, makes them feel uncomfortable. Now I have tried to refrain from doing as often but for some reason I just can't do it. But I have been told that my eyes say alot. I guess it is because I have seen alot. I am not sure.

I have never shied away from eye contact. Most people tell me that I am intimidating. My right eye is blue, my left is half blue and half green, with a brown streak running down the middle. I am almost legally blind in that eye. People have told me that my eyes are disturbing, others say they find them fascinating. I guess it depends on personal viewpoint.

I've been told I have the eyes of an "old soul". I do think that our "affliction" as Raph called it gives us the ability to read people better, and to understand the human psyche more than most. It goes with the territory.

Most other vamps I have met are the same way. We tend to see through other peoples defenses and I think that makes them nervous.