The Anatomy of the Iris & Eye Muscles

Lessons Learned From Vegas

On a recent trip to Las Vegas and on a quest to find a good cup of coffee, I found myself staring at my own eyeball. It sent me down a rabbit hole of eyeball anatomy that I didn't even know I wanted to know. Turns out, I knew more than I thought I did. And my bet is you do too.

This episode dives into iris anatomy and eye muscles to uncover the lesser-known structures that play a huge role in how we see—and how we feel.

Iris Anatomy and the Eye Muscles You Didn’t Know About

While visiting Las Vegas for the World Massage Festival, Allison Denney stumbled into a high-res image of her own iris—and down a rabbit hole of smooth muscle tissue, involuntary contractions, and eyeball function.

In this podcast episode, she unpacks how the iris is actually made of smooth muscle. Specifically, the sphincter pupillae (which contracts to reduce light intake) and the dilator pupillae (which expands the pupil in low light). These two muscle groups form what’s known as the pupillary mechanism, working non-stop to regulate vision without us even realizing it.

Why the Muscles of the Eye Matter to Massage Therapists

While we rarely massage the eye itself (thankfully), understanding the muscles that control the iris opens new perspectives on stress, fatigue, and systemic tension. Eye strain is not just visual—it’s muscular, neurological, and emotional.

That tired feeling in your eyes? It involves more than just the iris muscles. The ciliary muscle helps adjust the lens for near vs. far vision, and the extraocular skeletal muscles help with eye movement and tracking. When we’re stressed, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in and impacts all of these muscle groups—from how our pupils dilate to the tension in our brow, jaw, and neck.

Eye Fatigue, Stress, and the Role of Massage

Eye fatigue reflects larger patterns in the body. As Allison explains, tired eyes are often part of a feedback loop that includes tight jaw muscles, elevated shoulders, and shallow breathing. This is where massage comes in—not just for relaxation, but for increasing blood flow, easing nervous system activation, and supporting parasympathetic recovery.

Massage around the head, neck, and jaw can indirectly support the eye muscles by reducing systemic stress and muscular tension. It’s not just about the iris—it’s about connection.