diff --git a/src/args.cpp b/src/args.cpp
index ba6f2b3..58b20bc 100644
--- a/src/args.cpp
+++ b/src/args.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const struct argp_option options[] = {
 	//name, key, arg, flags, doc, group
 	{"haar-cascade",	0x00,	0,		0,	"Use Haar Cascades for faster (but less accurate) face detection.",	0},
 	{"show-camera",		0x01,	0,		0,	"Show the camera feed in another window",				0},
+	{"no-eyes",		0x02,	0,		0,	"Disable eye tracking for better performance.",				0},
 	{"model",		'm',	"model",	0,	"Name of the model file to use. (not including '.fma')",		0},
 	// this option actually selects the minimum camera id to use,
 	// i.e. instead of trying video0, video1, ... it will try
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ struct argp argp = {
 #endif
 
 struct optData optData = {
+	false,
 	false,
 	false,
 	"test",
@@ -50,6 +52,10 @@ error_t parseOptions(int key, char* arg, struct argp_state* state) {
 			optData.showCamera = true;
 			break;
 
+		case 0x02:	//--no-eyes
+			optData.noEyes = true;
+			break;
+
 		case 'm':
 			optData.model = std::string(arg);
 			break;
diff --git a/src/args.hpp b/src/args.hpp
index a007e4d..111a8db 100644
--- a/src/args.hpp
+++ b/src/args.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ error_t parseOptions(int key, char* arg, struct argp_state* state);
 struct optData {
 	bool useHaar;		// use haar cascades (0x00)
 	bool showCamera;	// show camera feed (0x01)
+	bool noEyes;		// disable eye tracking (0x02)
 	std::string model;	// model to open (0x6d 'm')
 	int minCameraID;	// camera id to start search on (0x63 'c')
 };
diff --git a/src/configfile.cpp b/src/configfile.cpp
index eaff972..bfec651 100644
--- a/src/configfile.cpp
+++ b/src/configfile.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ bool configFileOpen(struct optData* data) {
 	if (showCameraResult.first) {
 		data->showCamera = showCameraResult.second;
 	}
+	auto noEyesResult = configFile.table->getBool("no_eyes");
+	if (noEyesResult.first) {
+		data->noEyes = noEyesResult.second;
+	}
 	auto modelNameResult = configFile.table->getString("model");
 	if (modelNameResult.first) {
 		data->model = modelNameResult.second;
diff --git a/src/cv.cpp b/src/cv.cpp
index 6a908c1..09f345b 100644
--- a/src/cv.cpp
+++ b/src/cv.cpp
@@ -172,7 +172,10 @@ void cvFrame() {
 		cv::Mat eyeROI;
 		eyeROI = gray(eyeRect);
 
-		glm::vec2 eyeVector = eyeDirection(eyeROI);
+		glm::vec2 eyeVector(0,0);
+		if (!optData.noEyes) {
+			eyeVector = eyeDirection(eyeROI);	// run pupil tracking algorithm and get look direction
+		}
 
 		//send control information to graphics
 		float faceSize = landmarks[biggestFace][14].x - landmarks[biggestFace][2].x;
diff --git a/src/fc2dconfig.cpp b/src/fc2dconfig.cpp
index 93b59a5..19930c6 100644
--- a/src/fc2dconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/fc2dconfig.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class ConfigurationFrame : public wxFrame {
 		std::vector<std::string> modelVec;
 		wxCheckBox* useHaarCheckBox;
 		wxCheckBox* showCameraCheckBox;
+		wxCheckBox* noEyesCheckBox;
 		wxChoice* modelNameChoice;
 		wxSpinCtrl* cameraSpinCtrl;
 		void loadExistingConfig();	// loads existing config file and populates controls
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ ConfigurationFrame::ConfigurationFrame() : wxFrame(NULL, wxID_ANY, "Configure "
 	// define all controls and labels
 	useHaarCheckBox = new wxCheckBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "Disable DNN face detection");
 	showCameraCheckBox = new wxCheckBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "Show camera feed");
+	noEyesCheckBox = new wxCheckBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "Disable eye tracking");
 	wxStaticText* modelNameText = new wxStaticText(panel, wxID_ANY, "Model name:");
 	modelNameChoice = new wxChoice(panel, wxID_ANY, wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize, modelVec.size(), modelArray);
 	wxStaticText* cameraText = new wxStaticText(panel, wxID_ANY, "Camera ID:");
@@ -69,13 +71,17 @@ ConfigurationFrame::ConfigurationFrame() : wxFrame(NULL, wxID_ANY, "Configure "
 	cameraSizer->Add(cameraText, 0, wxALIGN_CENTER | wxALL, 5);
 	cameraSizer->Add(cameraSpinCtrl, 0, wxLEFT, 20);
 
+
+	// General section
 	wxStaticBoxSizer* generalBoxSizer = new wxStaticBoxSizer(new wxStaticBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "General"), wxVERTICAL);
 	generalBoxSizer->Add(modelSizer, 0, wxALL, 5);
 	generalBoxSizer->Add(cameraSizer, 0, wxALL, 5);
 	generalBoxSizer->Add(showCameraCheckBox, 0, wxALL, 5);
 
+	// Performance section
 	wxStaticBoxSizer* performanceBoxSizer = new wxStaticBoxSizer(new wxStaticBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "Performance"), wxVERTICAL);
 	performanceBoxSizer->Add(useHaarCheckBox, 0, wxALL, 5);
+	performanceBoxSizer->Add(noEyesCheckBox, 0, wxALL, 5);
 
 	// define bottom buttons (Cancel and Apply) and their sizer
 	wxButton* cancelButton = new wxButton(panel, wxID_CANCEL, "Cancel");
@@ -105,6 +111,7 @@ void ConfigurationFrame::loadExistingConfig() {
 
 	useHaarCheckBox->SetValue(configData.useHaar);
 	showCameraCheckBox->SetValue(configData.showCamera);
+	noEyesCheckBox->SetValue(configData.noEyes);
 	for (int i = 0; i < modelVec.size(); i++) {
 		if (modelVec[i] == configData.model) {
 			modelNameChoice->SetSelection(i);
@@ -120,6 +127,7 @@ void ConfigurationFrame::OnApply(wxCommandEvent& event) {
 	configFile.open(prefixConfig + "config.toml");
 	configFile << "use_haar = " << (useHaarCheckBox->GetValue() ? "true" : "false") << std::endl;
 	configFile << "show_camera = " << (showCameraCheckBox->GetValue() ? "true" : "false") << std::endl;
+	configFile << "no_eyes = " << (noEyesCheckBox->GetValue() ? "true" : "false") << std::endl;
 	// janky edge case lmao
 	// if user did not select any model, don't write the line in the config file!
 	if (modelNameChoice->GetSelection() != wxNOT_FOUND) {