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The Recognizability of Cropped Unilateral Upper Face Photographs
Edsel B Ing1,2, Brendan K Tao2, Michael Balas2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Eye Institute of Alberta, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|September 23, 2025
Summary
Cropped unilateral upper face photos of celebrities are rarely recognizable, even without iris masks. Full face photos significantly increase recognition, emphasizing the need for informed consent for all patient images.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Education
- Medical Photography
Background:
- Facial photographs are crucial for medical education.
- Protecting patient privacy is paramount when using medical images.
- The recognizability of partially cropped facial photos for identification is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the recognizability of unilateral cropped upper face photographs.
- To assess the impact of iris masking on facial photo recognition.
- To evaluate the difference in recognition between cropped and full-face photographs.
Main Methods:
- An online study surveyed 87 oculofacial surgeons in February 2025.
- Participants identified 4 famous individuals from cropped periorbital photos (with and without iris masks) and full-face photos.
- Confidence levels for identification were recorded for each image type.
Main Results:
- Cropped unilateral upper face photos were correctly identified only 4.9% of the time, with a mean confidence of 69%.
- Iris masking did not enhance recognition accuracy.
- Full-face photos led to a 16.8-fold increase in recognition compared to cropped photos.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral cropped periorbital photos are generally not sufficient for identifying individuals.
- Despite low recognizability, obtaining informed patient consent is mandatory for using any photographs in publications.
- This highlights the importance of ethical considerations in medical photography and education.
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