Eye Contact In Islam
Since there is no bad intention, so the cause of prohibition is not there, therefore it is not prohibited.
The knowledge of language and its uses tells what is literal or metaphor. We know the different meanings of heart in these two sentences: My heart is pounding. I respect you from the bottom of my heart. Lowering gaze is the most common way to turn away your gaze. It means to avoid looking at someone and of course, it is with a cause and the cause is to avoid lustfulness. When there is no lust involved, it is not forbidden to look at our close relations like father mother brother, and sister. Doctors are allowed to their patients. So it is staring or looking with lust or bad intention which is forbidden.