Hi Mary! The extra eyelets are available for different lacing techniques, such as the runner's knot. The runner's knot is a lacing technique that helps secure the heel. In a traditional runner's knot, you'll lace your shoes up without lacing them through the topmost eyelets. This is likely how the shoes were originally packaged. Then, instead of crisscrossing, you'll take the lace and, on the same side, insert the lace into the eyelet, going from the outside of the shoe to the inside of the shoe. This will create a little loop. Do that on both sides of the shoe. Then, when you go to tie the shoes, you'll cross the laces through those little loops and tighten the laces so the loops cinch around the laces. It helps to pull back on the laces as you tighten as opposed to pulling to the sides. You can adjust the tightness of this lacing as well to your liking.