{adv. phr.} As it is seen; as a person or thing first seems; apparently. * /That girl looks to the eye like a nice girl to know, but she is really rather mean./ * /That suit appears to the eye to be a good buy, but it may not be./ Compare: AT FIRST GLANCE.
TO THE EYE
Meaning of TO THE EYE in English
Dictionary of English idioms . Словарь английских идиом. 2012