Finally got my character's eyes to look right after 50 tries

Been working on this fantasy portrait for a week. The eyes kept looking dead, like glass marbles. My friend said they gave her the creeps. Watched a tutorial by 'Marc Brunet' on YouTube about subsurface scattering. Spent 3 hours just on the iris and cornea layers. Added a tiny light reflection off-center. Used a soft pink on the inner corners. The difference is huge. They look alive now, like they're actually wet. Has anyone else struggled with making eyes look real in a stylized piece? What finally clicked for you?