You've reached the pinnacle of eye strain. Your peepers are puckered, your pupils are protesting, and your retinas are rebelling. Why does it hurt so much?
Is it the sheer intensity of the stare, the unrelenting gaze, or the existential dread that comes with being on the receiving end of someone's judgmental glare?
Perhaps it's not the stare itself, but the expectations that come with it. The pressure to perform, to conform, to be on your best behavior. The weight of the world's gaze, crushing you beneath its gaze.
Or maybe it's just your eyeballs being drama-prone, overreacting to the slightest hint of eye contact. Either way, you're here, and so are your throbbing eye sockets.
To better understand the science behind staring-induced soreness, check out our The Physics of Piercing Gazes page.
Or, for a more philosophical take, visit Eyes Wide Shut.
And don't even get us started on Awkward Eye Contact. That's just a whole different can of worms.
So, take a deep breath, and let your eyes recover. But don't blink, or you might just miss the Stare of the Century.
Stay stared, and stay sore.