Man sets sights on eye-popping record

AP/Yahoo ^ | Sun Sep 17, 7:08 AM ET

[martin_fierro]

Man sets sights on eye-popping record

Sun Sep 17, 7:08 AM ET

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Claudio Paulo Pinto is looking to break an eye-popping record. Literally. Pinto can pop his eyeballs out of their sockets at least 7 millimeters (0.3 inches), a national record for eye-popping according to RankBrasil, an organization modeled after the Guinness Book of World Records that lists Brazilian records.

A former driver, Pinto got a job scaring visitors in a commercial haunted house in Belo Horizonte, 210 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. But he recently was laid off, and now he seeks international recognition for his ability.

"I was measured by an opthamologist on television in January. I could pop my eyes out 7 millimeters," Pinto said by telephone Saturday. "Since then, my capacities have improved over 50 percent."

That could put Pinto close to the record. The title of "furthest eyeball popper" in the Guinness Book of World Records currently belongs to Kim Goodman of Chicago, who can pop her eyeballs 11 milimeters (0.43 inches) out of her sockets.

Pinto's ability is called "globe luxation." Doctors say it can strain blood vessels and nerves between the eyes and the head and feels unpleasant but usually doesn't cause lasting damage.

Pinto says he's been luxating his globes since he was 9 years old and "it doesn't hurt a bit."

[martin_fierro]

In this combination picture of before and after, Claudio Paulo Pinto pops his eyeballs out of their sockets, in Belo Horizonte, 340 kilometers (210 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday, Sept 16, 2006. Claudio Paulo Pinto is looking for work. That's his job _ looking. Pinto can pop his eyeballs at least 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) out of their sockets, a national record for eye-popping according to RankBrasil, an organization modelled after the Guinness Book of World Records that lists Brazilian records. Pinto says he's been doing this since he was nine years old and 'it doesn't hurt a bit.' (AP Photo/Eugenio Savio)

[martin_fierro]

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The List of Ping Lists

[Man50D]

Some people have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time on their hands!

[pax_et_bonum]

Oh My! Eye-Popper Pinggggggg!!!!!!!!!!

[Ditter]

I'm not laughing. Am I humor impaired?

[uglybiker]

Bump for 'photocropping' when I gits home.

[Global2010]

Graves Disease Alert!

The fellow says it does not hurt a bit, well fellow it hurts looking atcha.

There was an actor who had a problem with his eye ball falling out, I believe he played in the newer Addams Family or maybe it was the older one can't remember.

[martin_fierro]

Brazil WTF.

[martin_fierro]

SOUTH

[Bringbackthedraft]

He reminds me of a character from a SciFi movie of the early 50's.

[Covenantor]

He reminds me of a character from a SciFi movie of the early 50's.

There were magazines devoted to film monsters back then. Just the thing for pre-adolescent boys. One had an article on DIY special effects. The pop-eyed effect was the easiest to do. My friends and I went through more than a few pin-pong balls to achieve that 'look'. Red paint added the bloodshot look, though one friend went for the apple-green cover up.

[TADSLOS]

[martin_fierro]

lol

[chapin2500]

>

[Bringbackthedraft]

"IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE" I believe was the movie that had the ping pong ball eyes.

[maggief]

[Bringbackthedraft]

"IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE" I believe was the movie that had the ping pong ball eyes.

I HAD THE WRONG TITLE it was "Killers from Space" with Peter Graves.

[Caipirabob]

Brazil WTF.

Yikes! They can keep it - lol!

[EveningStar]

Do a Google on "Killers from Space"

[Covenantor]