120+ Best Eye Tattoo Ideas To Showcase Your Inner Visionary

Eye tattoos generally represent intuition and insight. But there's a bunch of different concepts and details that you can add to change them up. One of my favorites that I've done has to be the crying eye tattoo. I've done a few of them for clients to honor loved ones that they've lost.

Apart from the crying eye design, there are a bunch of different ways that you can play with an eye tattoo. Some of my favorites include an eye bound up, and an eye with a dagger So, in this article, I thought about going through them and all the other best eye tattoos around!

Best Eye Tattoo Ideas

Here are all the best eye tattoo ideas.

Simple Eye Tattoo

To start off this list, let's talk about a simple eye tattoo. A simple eye tattoo is basically an eye tattoo with very basic line work and minimal shading. The symbolism of intuition and insight will really be able to shine since there are not many details stealing the spotlight. I also think that going more simple with the eye tattoo is a good route if you don't want anything too flashy.

Most of the simple eye tattoos that I've done have been on the smaller side - it's not hard to think why: there are not many details in the eye tattoo design, so there's no need to make it big.

Here are some eye simple tattoo designs:

Abstract Eye Tattoo Design

You can always get more intricate with the details and go for an abstract eye tattoo design. Most of the abstract eye tattoo designs that I've done have included sharp details and geometric shapes - I've noticed a lot of clients want triangles in there too.

I had this client come in for an abstract eye tattoo once, and she got the eye as the full moon in the center, with the different phases of the moon in triangles surrounding it. I just thought the tat design looked really cool, so maybe you can try it too.

Here are some abstract eye tattoo designs:

Realistic Eye Tattoo

If you want an absolute stunner, perhaps consider getting a realistic human eye tattoo. Just remember that hyper-realistic pieces take a lot of skill to do. So, book a tattoo artist who's a pro at hyper-realistic pieces. In fact, the tattoo artists in our studio send their clients to me whenever they ask for hyper-realistic pieces because they just can't nail it.

Here are some realistic tattoo designs of eyes:

Multiple Eyeball Tattoo

Instead of just focusing on one eye as a part of your design, you could go all out and add a few of them. You can either have the eyes next to each other or do what one of my clients did and get a single eye with three eyeballs inside of it. When it comes to style, you can go more simple with it if you want, but it's definitely up to you.

I'd say this tattoo design can represent a heightened state of awareness. So it'll make a good tattoo if you're someone with a lot of insight and wisdom.

Here are some multi-eyeball tattoos:

Eye Bound Up Tattoo Design

Another interesting eye tattoo design has to be an eye all bound up - it can represent not being able to see the world, or perhaps even having to keep what you know a secret.

Most of the tattoos I've done of this design have included more realistic eyes. So, if you're going this route, remember what I mentioned earlier and look for a tattoo artist who knows what they're doing before booking your tattoo session.

Here are some bound eye tattoo designs:

Evil Eye Tattoo Design

If you were to speak to anyone that's superstitious, they'd tell you how important of a symbol the evil eye is: it's seen as this powerful emblem to ward off negative energy. But personally, I think an evil eye tattoo just looks really cool, which is reason enough to get it.

There are two ways that you can go about an evil eye tattoo - you can either get the evil eye alone or get it as a part of a Hamsa which is another popular symbol for protection. Either way, I'd suggest that you don't skip out on the color. There's a nice blue color in the evil eye design which you absolutely need to let shine in such a tattoo.

Here are some evil eye tattoo designs for your body art:

Eye of Horus Eye Tattoo (Egyptian Eye Tattoo)

In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Horus' left eye is a symbol of protection and health. It'll make a good eye tattoo if you're superstitious but don't want an evil eye tattoo. Or you can do what one of my clients did and double up the protection and get both the Eye of Horus and the evil eye tattooed on - there's really no rule against this.

Here's some Eye of Horus tattoo ideas:

Eye in Cloud Tattoo Design

Clouds are a good way to represent a connection to the heavens, so combining an eye with a cloud can signify a sense of cosmic awareness. You can also include halos coming out of the clouds - it adds to the connection to the heavens.

You can also perhaps add a lightning bolt or two: there are a couple of different things that a lightning bolt can signify, but divine revelation is definitely a top one.

Here are some eye-in-cloud tattoo designs:

Eye and Sun Tattoo Design

The sun's responsible for the light and sustenance around us, so combining it with an eye makes for a neat tattoo that can represent a sense of enlightenment.

You can either have the sun next to an eye as a part of your eye tattoo design or have the eye surrounded with rays coming out of it as if it's the sun.

Here are a few eye and sun tattoo designs that you can try:

Eye and Moon Tattoo Design

Instead of the sun, you can maybe incorporate the moon as a part of your eye tattoo. The different cycles of the moon tend to signify the different stages in life, but the moon's cycles also do a good job of representing transformation. I'd say getting an eye tattooed alongside the moon is an excellent way to showcase awareness of both the transformation and the circle of life.

Here is a nice moon eye tattoo design:

Eye With a Dagger and Heart Tattoo Design

You can go for a pretty dynamic-looking eye tattoo by adding a dagger with a heart to it. In popular literature, daggers are symbolic of betrayal: so this design usually means betrayal by someone very close - you can emphasise this by having blood come out of the heart too.

Here are some eye tattoo designs that are similar:

Eye On a Knife Tattoo

If you're someone who wants to show that they're not to be messed with, you can get an eye on a knife tattoo- it overall sends a message that you're always watching and out for vengeance. I'd recommend adding the knife in a stabbing motion: I think it'll just add to the fierceness factor.

From my experience, this eye tattoo design works really well on arms and even forearms. It just fits nicely into the space.

Here are some similar tattoos:

Eye With Rose Tattoo Design

The rose is known for its beauty and is a popular symbol of love. Opting for a tattoo with an eye and rose would be a smart way to showcase that you have your eyes on your loved ones, and are keeping them safe. Some people get this tattoo to honor their family members but I've noticed most of them get it to honor their partners.

Here are some rose eye tattoo designs:

Eye and Clock Tattoos

By getting an eye and clock tattooed together, you'll always be reminded to be conscious of the passage of time. Most of the clock and eye tattoos I've done have used pocket watches, but you could perhaps use a grandfather clock.

It's also up to you to decide how to go about including the eye and clock together. You can either have the eye next to the clock or place the eye in the center of the watch face.

Here are some eye clock tattoo design ideas:

Crying Eye Tattoo

A Crying eye tattoo can symbolize grief. Like I mentioned in my introduction, I did one of these recently for a client who was dealing with the loss of her childhood best friend.

From my experience, there are two ways you can go about a tattoo like this - you can either get a realistic-looking eye that's crying, or a simpler one: I'd say going realistic with it is a good idea if you want an eye-catching tattoo.

Here are some crying eye tattoo designs:

Tiger Eye Tattoo

The tiger is this alpha predator, and his eyes really capture his fierceness. A tattoo of a tiger's eyes would be a good choice if you want to show the world you're not someone to be messed with. But it can also represent that you have the inner strength and determination of a beast like the Tiger.

I'd recommend that you do the eye tattoo in color - there's a lot of nice detail and shading in a tiger's eyes that you'll miss otherwise.

Here are some tiger eye tattoo designs:

Lion's Eye Tattoo

If you don't want a tiger's eye, you could maybe do another fierce big cat, like the lion. Just like tigers, lions are also majestic predators on top of the food chain, and their eyes capture this well. You can either get a lion's eyes or have a lion near a set of eyes for your tattoo.

Here are some lion eye tattoo designs:

Anime Eye Tattoo

You can also get an Anime eye tattoo. Instead of going basic with it and getting a generic anime eye tattoo, you can maybe play around and get the eyes of a specific Anime character. More recently, I had this client come in for a Berserk eye tattoo. He wanted a sketch of Guts' eyes when he was about to go into battle.

Of course, the tattoo means all sorts of different things depending on the character you're getting. You can either choose to get the tattoo done in color or keep it black and white if you're going to be basing it on the manga or anime.

Eye in Teeth Tattoo

I have to say that an eye in teeth is a bit of a strange tattoo design, but teeth are one of the strongest natural substances out there. So, getting an eye and tooth design can represent you trying to safeguard your vision or insight from outside, possibly negative forces.

Eye in Skull Tattoo

Skulls are associated with death, so adding an eye to a skull tattoo design can signify awareness of death that's yet to come. I've actually done a few skull and eye tattoos where the client wanted a clock in there too - I thought it really added to the fact that death is impending.

But at the same time, you can play with the idea of a skull and maybe add the eye as a third eye. The third eye will be a good way to represent a spiritual awakening while also combining elements of the cycle of life that the skull adds.

Here are a few skull eye tattoo design ideas:

Cross and Eye Tattoo

You can also honor your Christian faith and get a cross and eye tattoo. This is a pretty great tattoo idea if you want to showcase seeing and believing in Christ. You can either get a cross with a human eye in the middle or a realistic eye with a cross inside the pupil.

Here is a nice cross-eye tattoo design:

Eye of Providence Tattoo

The eye of providence is another eye tattoo design that's heavily rooted in Christianity. It's supposed to represent God watching over us. If you've taken a look at a one-dollar bill, you've probably seen an eye of providence before - it's the eye symbol on top of the pyramid.

You don't have to go big with it, as the eye tattoo design is pretty small. In fact, I think it'll be perfect if you want a hand tattoo actually.

Here are some providence eye tattoo designs:

Butterfly Eye Tattoo

The butterfly not only represents beauty but also transformation - a caterpillar has to go through a series of stages to finally become a butterfly. By combining an eye with a butterfly, you'll have a tattoo with some deep meaning - the eye can symbolize awareness, while the butterfly can symbolize transformation and change in life.

Generally speaking, I also think this is a fun tattoo design to do as there are just so many butterflies out there, so there are so many of them to choose inspiration from.

Here are some butterfly eye tattoos:

Arm Eye Tattoo

Arms tattoos are pretty popular with clients, regardless of if they're getting an eye tattooed on or not. The arm's a spot that doesn't hurt much, and it's a large enough space to really let you get intricate with details. Plus, you can go all out and get a sleeve or a half-sleeve if you want.

But of course, keep in mind that sleeves can take some time, and also are pretty expensive since you'll be adding all sorts of various elements.

Here are some arm eye tattoos:

Hand-Eye Tattoo

Instead of going with an arm tattoo, you can always get an eye tattoo on your hand. It's a spot that works really well if you want something smaller, like the Eye of Horus maybe. However, as a tattoo artist, I don't really recommend hand tattoos to newbies - there are a lot of nerve endings and bones here, so it can seriously hurt.

Here are some hand-eye tattoo designs:

Thigh Eye Tattoo

I haven't done that many eye tattoo designs on thighs before, but it's definitely a location that you can get tattooed on. Upper and outer thigh tattoos don't hurt that much, but I have to say that inner thigh tattoos can be quite painful. Also, you'll be able to add intricate details as there's just so much space to work with.

Here is a nice thigh eye tattoo design:

What Does An Eye Tattoo Symbolize?

Eye tattoos generally represent intuition and clarity. However, there are a few different ways that you can play with an eye tattoo design, like a lion or tiger's eye can symbolize fierceness, Horus' eye can represent protection from negative energies, and a crying eye can represent grief.

But an eye tattoo can also represent a sense of higher awareness - a good eye design to symbolize this would be eyes in a cloud.

Are Eye Tattoos Painful?

If it's an eye or scleral tattooing that you're talking about, they don't really hurt. You'll be adding ink to the sclera which doesn't have many nerve endings. But I have to say that getting your eyes tattooed in general can be very risky - you can potentially lose your eyesight if your eye gets perforated.

Of course, if you're talking about eye-related tattoo designs in general, the answer depends on the specific spot you're going to get tattooed. If it's your hand by chance, then you'll be dealing with quite a bit of pain (remember what I said about the bones). But you should be good to go on your arm or upper thigh.

Final Thoughts

There are a bunch of different eye tattoo designs out there, which are a great way to represent intuition and clarity. But as discussed, there are a lot of different concepts that you can incorporate, each having its own meaning.

All in all, I hope you found my list of eye tattoos useful, and are able to find the right eye tattoo for you now!