I'm a well read grad student who's bluntly honest about all things, although I try to be most honest about myself.
"His eyes caressed her." Um, no. This implies his eyes detached from his head, presumably attached to stalks of some kind, and caressed her. I always see this when writers use 'eyes' instead of 'gaze.' Here's the deal, authors. Everyone does it. It is still wrong. I will continue to giggle like a schoolgirl who had to translate 'humptius dumptius' when I see this.
True story and the Latin teacher spent an hour trying to get sixteen year olds not to laugh at that. I assume he never made that mistake again. So, yeah, I giggle loudly for hours about the weird shit eyes get up to in books...