Leopard Geckos lick their eyeballs to keep them moist and clean. Even though, over time, geckos have evolved moveable eyelids to protect their wide eyes, they still lick their eyeballs as a way of cleaning them out. Leos lick their eyes because they lack the ability to produce tears and need to clean and moisten their eyes.
Leopard Geckos Don’t Have Eyelids
Some Leopard Geckos lack eyelids, so they don’t blink. Because of this, you will see your gecko licking its eyeballs to keep them moist clean, and crystal clear. Actually, the gecko is licking the translucent lining covering the eyeball, not the eyeball itself.
Leopard Geckos will probably win the staring contest effortlessly because they don’t have eyelids! But we know pretty well the importance of eyelids to the eyes.
We have eyelids in our eyes to protect them from irritants, dust, water, and too much light. On top of that, when we feel tired or sleepy, the eyelids become heavy, telling the eye that we need to sleep or rest.
But in the case of Leos, the only way you can tell if your cute reptile is asleep is when he retreats to his favorite spot to have some rest.
Some gecko species have evolved vertical pupils that block excessive sun rays by closing the eyes to tiny slits. But some Leos lack such an adaptation, so they lick their eyes as a protective mechanism from damaging rays.
Some Leopard Gecko Species Cannot Blink
Leopard Gecko species that don’t blink, such as House geckos, Tokay geckos, and Crested geckos, have fixed eyelids. These Leos have a clear scale or spectacle covering their eyes, and to clean them, they have to use their long tongues to do it.
As mentioned earlier, these eyelids act as a guard against the strong rays of the sun. The fact that Leopard Gecko’s eyes are more advanced than ours means that they can see vividly after trapping more light, compared to human eyes.
In addition, your gecko may use its tongue to help remove the particles obstructing its vision or reduce any possible strain.
It’s Hard To See With Foggy And Dirty Eyes
While wild geckos are naturally found on trees and forest floors, petted leopard geckos prefer to stay on walls and ceilings, which are often dirty and dusty. This can make their eyes dirty, hampering their vision.
For this reason, Leos use their tongue to clear their eyes and remove any dirt, enhancing their vision and avoiding being predated upon.
Leopard Geckos Lick Their Eyes To See Well When Hunting
As much as Leos are vulnerable to their prey, they are also predators, and they feed on small insects such as crickets, earthworms, mealworms, grasshoppers, fruit flies, moths, and waxworms.
To capture his prey quickly, your little guy needs to see perfectly, so he licks his eyes for clearer vision. Small Leo species rely on their clear vision to navigate their natural habitat, and not being able to see clearly can also result in accidents that are sometimes fatal.
Leopard Geckos Have Large Eyes
Well, if something gets into your eye, you’ll scratch or wipe it to remove whatever is causing the discomfort. Similarly, geckos do the same thing with their tongue to remove dirt or dust that may be sticking in their big eyes.
You might be surprised to find out that some Leopard Gecko species have large eyes proportional to their head. This means that dirt and dust can stick easily on these enormous eyes, which can be very irritating. So your pet lizard will lick its eyes to ease irritation from its large eyes.
Besides, the Leos’ eyes can dry up easily because of their large size, also leading to irritation. Thus, your little guy will use his tongue to relieve the dryness by moisturizing it, just like we splash some water into our eyes or use eye drops when our eyes are itchy or dry.
Geckos Tongues are Different
A gecko’s tongue is highly-advanced and indeed different from other animals and humans. It is longer, thicker, and extra sticky; thus, it may function as an extra arm or fifth limb.
That said, Leos lick their eyes because it’s easier to use this extra and flexible arm compared to their comparatively shorter limbs. Besides, they can use it to clean their arms, heads, and other body parts without having to change their position.
Geckos Cannot Use Their Limbs
Leopard Gecko’s tongue resembles a windshield wiper, and the spectacle resembles the windshield. Through your reptile pet licking its eyes, the spectacles are kept moist and free from irritation that may result from dryness.
We scratch our eyes when irritated or use our hands to cover and protect them. But geckos have short limbs that cannot protect their eyes as we do with our hands and thus prefer to use their long sticky tongue.
Though leopard geckos’ feet or hands may reach their eyes, doing this even for a flash of a second keeps them at risk of being predated upon. To ensure they’re not left vulnerable, they use the tongue instead. Besides, they’ve claws in their limbs, which may even cause more eye damage.
Leopard Geckos Lick their Eyes Because they Can
Sometimes your adorable pet geckos lick their eyes at their pleasure because they’re able to. So, should you find your little friend licking his eyeballs, just let him, as he may be enjoying the action. Plus, he may be cleaning his eyes to see you better and more clearly.
Conclusion
Eye licking is part of Leopard Geckos’ behavior which some may consider abnormal, but it shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Geckos do not produce tears as we humans do, so to keep their eyes moist, they have to lick them frequently. Should you notice, your Leopard Gecko’s eyes are irritated, swollen, or crusted shut, consult your reptile vet. You might be recommended to use an antibiotic eye ointment to treat your little buddy.
