Ophthalmolycus eastmani can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: two posterior nasal pores; epidermal prickles on lips and snout; gill slit extending ventrally to the lower margin of the pectoral fin base; vertebrae asymmetrical 26 − 27 + 91 − 92 = 117 − 118; dorsal fin rays 111–113; dorsal fin origin associated with vertebra 6, with no free pterygiophores; pectoral fin rays 17–18; two postorbital pores; lateral line with ventral and mediolateral branches; scales extending anteriorly to just anterior to the anal fin origin; six branchiostegal rays; oral valve nearly reaching the anterior edge of vomer; palatine teeth in two rows anteriorly; 3–5 pseudobranch filaments; two well developed pyloric caeca; pelvic fin and vomerine teeth present (Ref. 84360).