Satisfying a user's actual underlying needs in the image retrieval process is a difficult challenge facing image retrieval technology. The aim of this study is to improve the performance of a retrieval system and provide users with optimized search results using the feedback of eye movement. We analyzed the eye movement signals of the user’s image retrieval process from cognitive and mathematical perspectives. Data collected for 25 designers in eye tracking experiments were used to train and evaluate the model. In statistical analysis, eight eye movement features were statistically significantly different between selected and unselected groups of images (p < 0.05). An optimal selection of input features resulted in overall accuracy of the support vector machine prediction model of 87.16%. Judging the user’s requirements in the image retrieval process through eye movement behaviors was shown to be effective.