A few things come to mind when people think about pirates. The most common ones include their pet parrots, buried treasure, and the famous eye patch. Like all other misconceptions about pirates, there are a couple of theories about why pirates wore eyepatches. Also, not all pirates wore eyepatches. On the contrary, eyepatches have been popularized by recent literature and films. That said, this article digs into the key reasons why some pirates wore eye patches.
Must All Pirates Wear Eye Patches?
As mentioned in the beginning, not all pirates wore eyepatches. Therefore, the eyepatch was not a mandatory aspect of a pirate’s attire. However, Hollywood and Literature writers included the concept of the eyepatch to make pirates appear menacing. Good examples include the One-Eyed-Willie from The Goonies and Long John Silver from the novel Treasure Island. These characters wore eye patches to boost their aura. But the famous Captain Jack Sparrow didn’t wear one. Fiction aside, some real-life pirates wore eye patches.
There are a couple of reasons why real-life pirates wore eye patches. The most obvious one was to hide an eye after losing it in battle, Rahman al-Jalhmai being an excellent example. In other cases, the eyepatches were used to improve the wearer’s vision at night, as pirates spent much time at sea.
As the pirates moved up and down the decks and navigated ships at night, the eyepatches helped them retain sharp vision even when visibility was low. Back then, pirates observed that enclosing one eye with a patch would condition it to see better in the dark. As such, they would switch the eye patch at night or when going to the lower deck.
Did Eyepatches Really Help Pirates’ Vision?
According to science, the pirates’ idea to wear eyepatches to improve their vision was valid. Scientists have observed that when lights are switched off, the pupils dilate to bring in more light. When there isn’t enough light in the room, the brain creates a chemical called rhodopsin, which sends signals to the nerves to improve vision in the darkness.
The problem is that rhodopsin can only be made with light. With no light, other chemicals in the brain have to come together to create it, which can take at least 20-30 minutes. This is why it takes longer for the eyes to adjust from seeing in bright light to seeing in darkness.
Here is where the theory of eye patches comes in. Assuming a pirate was on the upper deck and could see clearly with the help of sunlight when they moved to the lower deck, they could switch to the closed eye, which had already been used to the darkness. Therefore, it wouldn’t take long for the eye that was patched to see better in the dark or dim light. Basically, the eye patch always kept one eye ready to see in the dark.
Please note that there are no first-person testimonials supporting this theory. There are also no records in the history of sailors supporting these claims. However, it is the most practical explanation, as proven by the MythBusters in 2007.
Kari, one of the MythBusters, covered one of her eyes with a patch and then went to an ophthalmologist. Surprisingly, it was observed that the covered eye could see much better in the dark. Apart from MythBusters, the FAA Fitness for Flight also supports this hypothesis. They advise pilots to close one eye to increase adaptation to darkness when viewing a bright light.
How Pirates Dressed in the Past
Some historians have dismissed the idea that pirates did not wear eye patches. Records from the 17th and 18th centuries do not mention or provide any supporting evidence that pirates wore eye patches. This has led to the conclusion that fictional writers popularized the concept of the eye patch.
Probably, pirates used to dress like other sailors back in the day; they wore light and comfortable clothing. However, considering their line of work, their clothes might have been more ragged because they were stolen from other ships. Occasionally, they would wear flashy clothing to show off in front of other pirates.
The Use of Eye Patches in the Modern World
Eye patches are just synonymous with pirates. Throughout history, eye patches have been worn by detectives, merchants, and even leaders from some cultures. Apart from improving vision, eye patches are a symbol of power and status. In the entertainment world, eye patches make characters appear tough. In the modern world, eye patches are worn to prevent infection after surgery. They prevent dust and impurities from getting into the eye while helping the patient avoid touching the eye and irritating it.