When getting a new tattoo, there's a lot of symbolism to consider, especially for those of us who want our new ink to be particularly meaningful and personal for us. Sometimes, the right symbol to include is the eye, in various forms, colors, and styles, and even in its most basic form, an eye tattoo can can mean so many different things to different people.
The eye can mean so many things: Wisdom, vision, sight, or even the balance between good and evil. For some, it has a more spiritual meaning, like the idea of a third eye — an all knowing sense that helps us see things we might not have been able to otherwise.
Of course, not every tattoo has to be meaningful — some are just pretty or for fun — but those who want to go a little deeper with their art might happen to find some inspiration here.
Thinking about getting an eye tattoo? Read on for a variety of ideas from tattoos that real people have gotten. Featuring an eye front and center in a tattoo design can yield some seriously gorgeous results like the artwork ahead.
Eye of the Storm
This super colorful and stylized tattoo takes the phrase "eye of the storm" to the next level. It's inside a cloud, with sunshine on one side and a thunderstorm, complete with lightning, on the other.
The Holy Hamsa
According to the caption on the Instagram post where the tattoo artist shared this cool design, this tattoo is known as the Hamsa or the Hand of Fatima and "is an amulet believed to provide protection and bear good fortune."
Anime Eye
This anime-style eye tattoo evokes such sadness — the waviness of the iris and the tears flowing underneath the eyelashes definitely make us feel that a tattoo like this could symbolize overcoming a lot of dark stuff in someone's life.
Watering the Flowers
This tattoo has some seriously gorgeous colors (especially the rainbow shading around the eye itself), while also representing something cool — the tears are watering the flowers, showing that something beautiful can come from pain.
Keeping an Eye on Dessert
Dessert is the most important meal of the day, so any tattoo that includes baked goods is a win by us. With gorgeous rainbow eyeshadow colors, yummy baked treats adorning the eyelid, and the sprinkles in the background, this is a fun choice.
Shining Eye
This tattoo definitely gets its point across — and it takes up a ton of real estate! However, even though this eye is giant, it's worth the arm space. It looks so realistic, especially the detailing of the eyelashes.
Minimalist Eye
Finger tattoos are super cute, and even a tiny piece of art like this can still have a big impact. This eye tattoo might be small, but it's definitely cute — and plenty of people will be able to see it in such a prominent spot.
Ankle Eye
So many tattoos look cute in this placement, and this eye ankle tattoo is one of them! The little bit of color really makes the tattoo pop as a whole, and the fact that the pupil is heart shaped is super cute.
The Eye of the King
This tattoo might be black and white, but the line work totally makes up for the lack of color in the impressiveness department! The hands that surround the eye in the center are so well done, and so is the super detailed crown that pulls it all together.
The Eye of Providence
The eye in a triangle is known as the Eye of Providence, which represents the eye of God watching out for everyone. Though this isn't a direct interpretation of the symbol — it's even more realistic than that.
Neon Eye
Here's another more unusual take on the eye of providence, this time, filled with neon colors. It holds all the same symbolism, of course, but it's way more customized (and eye-catching) for those who want something a little less traditional.
Watercolor Eye
This tattoo includes the watercolor trend that's still going strong (and is that little winged eyeliner we see?) to beautiful results. The only downside to this tattoo is the fact that its new owner will never be able to see it since it's on her back!
A Blue Eye
This blue eye tattoo is a lot softer and less in-our-faces as other tattoos that include this symbol, but it's still just as beautiful. With the shading and the details, it looks so real.
An All-Seeing Cat
Here's a super unique design! This cat tattoo not only features a detailed mandala design, but the cat itself also happens to have a third eye — the idea of another, mystical eye that can see things we ordinarily can't.
A Cover Up
Here's a pretty impressive cover-up tattoo done by an artist in Indonesia. Though it's hard to tell what the "before" tattoo was, the after looks pretty darn good, including the eye of an animal (maybe a bird?).
A Traditional Eye
For those who just want a simple, realistic-looking eye tattoo, this one might offer up some good inspiration. The pop of blue color really makes it stand out, and though it's basic, it makes an impact.
Red Eyes
In the caption, the tattoo artist called these "angry criers," and we have to agree. The color red does symbolize anger, after all, and who doesn't get so mad they start crying every once in a while?
Flower Eyes
As part of a bigger, floral-themed sleeve, this eye (with flowers and branches growing out of it) fits right in with the tattoos that surround it. And yes, those are Taylor Swift lyrics we spy underneath!
Eyes on the Clock
For someone who's watching time pass, this eye with a clock inside the iris could end up being pretty meaningful. It's so big, but there's no way it doesn't catch people's attention, especially with the glare that makes it look so real.
The Eye Has It
When we look at this tattoo, we immediately notice the vibrant blue at the center — so striking! It's surrounded by shading and line work that certainly makes it stand out from all the other eye-themed tattoos out there, too.
