What Is Canthal Tilt?
Canthal tilt is the angle formed between your inner eye corner (medial canthus) and outer eye corner (lateral canthus). It describes whether your eyes tilt up or down from the inside to the outside. This angle is one of the key traits assessed in facial aesthetics and on the PSL scale.
To measure yours, use the free Canthal Tilt Calculator - upload a straight-on photo, mark both eye corners, and get the exact angle in degrees.
Positive vs Negative Canthal Tilt
Positive Canthal Tilt
A positive canthal tilt means the outer corner of the eye sits higher than the inner corner. This creates an upward-slanting eye shape often described as alert, youthful, and cat-like. In facial aesthetics, a positive tilt is generally considered a halo - a positive trait that elevates the overall impression of the face.
Negative Canthal Tilt
A negative canthal tilt means the outer corner sits lower than the inner corner. This creates a downward-slanting eye shape that can read as tired, sad, or droopy. A strongly negative tilt is often considered a failo in PSL rating. However, a mild negative tilt is common and not necessarily unattractive.
Neutral Canthal Tilt
A neutral canthal tilt means both corners are at approximately the same height. This is perfectly normal and neither helps nor hurts your overall facial score significantly.
How to Measure Canthal Tilt
To measure canthal tilt accurately:
- Take a straight-on photo of your face with good lighting and a neutral expression.
- Identify the medial canthus (inner corner where the upper and lower eyelids meet near the nose).
- Identify the lateral canthus (outer corner where the eyelids meet toward the ear).
- Measure the vertical difference between the two points and the horizontal distance between them.
- Calculate the angle using the arctangent of the vertical difference divided by the horizontal distance.
The Canthal Tilt Calculator automates this process - you mark the four eye corners on your photo and it calculates the tilt in degrees for both eyes.
Can You Change Your Canthal Tilt?
Canthal tilt is determined by the bone structure of the orbital rim - the bony frame around your eyes. Non-surgical methods cannot change it. However, there are options:
Non-Surgical Approaches
- Makeup: extending eyeliner slightly upward at the outer corners creates the illusion of a more positive tilt.
- Brow shaping: shaping brows to arch slightly higher at the outer edges can complement the eye shape.
- Filler: tear trough or cheek filler can subtly change the shadow patterns around the eyes, though it won't change the actual tilt.
Surgical Approaches
- Canthoplasty: repositions the lateral canthal tendon to raise the outer eye corner. This is the most effective surgical option for changing canthal tilt.
- Canthopexy: a less invasive procedure that tightens and supports the outer eye corner without fully repositioning it.
- Orbital rim implants: can alter the bony frame around the eye to change the tilt angle.
Canthal Tilt and the PSL Scale
On the PSL scale, canthal tilt is one of several eye-area traits that contribute to your overall score. A positive tilt is a halo that can raise your rating, while a strongly negative tilt is a failo that can lower it. The effect is weighted alongside other traits like facial symmetry, jawline definition, and facial proportions. You can estimate how your canthal tilt stacks up with a free PSL test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is canthal tilt?
Canthal tilt is the angle between your inner eye corner (medial canthus) and outer eye corner (lateral canthus). If the outer corner sits higher than the inner corner, you have a positive canthal tilt. If it sits lower, you have a negative canthal tilt. A neutral tilt means both corners are at the same height.
Which is better, negative or positive canthal tilt?
In facial aesthetics, a positive canthal tilt is generally considered more attractive because it creates a youthful, alert eye shape. A negative canthal tilt can make the eyes appear tired or sad. However, attractiveness is subjective, and many attractive people have neutral or slightly negative tilts. The effect is one of many factors in overall facial harmony.
How to measure canthal tilt?
You can measure canthal tilt by taking a straight-on photo and comparing the vertical position of your inner and outer eye corners. The free Canthal Tilt Calculator on PSL Rank lets you mark both corners on a photo and calculates the exact angle in degrees. A positive result means the outer corner is higher; a negative result means it is lower.
Can you change your canthal tilt?
Canthal tilt is determined by the bone structure around your eyes. It cannot be changed through exercises or non-surgical methods. Canthoplasty and canthopexy are surgical procedures that can alter the position of the outer eye corner to create a more positive tilt. These procedures should only be performed by a qualified oculoplastic surgeon.
Is negative canthal tilt bad?
A negative canthal tilt is not harmful to your health. It is purely an aesthetic consideration. In PSL rating, a strongly negative canthal tilt is considered a failo (a negative trait) because it can make the eyes appear droopy. However, a mild negative tilt is common and may have little impact on overall attractiveness.
How to get a positive canthal tilt?
Without surgery, you cannot change your canthal tilt. Makeup techniques, such as extending eyeliner slightly upward at the outer corners, can create the illusion of a more positive tilt. For a permanent change, canthoplasty surgery can reposition the lateral canthal tendon to raise the outer eye corner.
What is a normal canthal tilt angle?
A positive canthal tilt of about 5 to 8 degrees is common and considered aesthetically pleasing. A tilt of 0 degrees (neutral) is also normal. Negative tilts of more than a few degrees are less common. The Canthal Tilt Calculator gives you a precise measurement in degrees from a photo.