Why Pirates Wear Eye Patches

Many pirates in the movies, especially the captains, are shown wearing an eye patch over one eye. Did pirates always suffer eye injuries on the high seas? I’m sure that many of them did, but there could be a more tactical reason.

One theory says that pirates would cover one eye to allow for better viewing in the dark rooms below deck. We have all experienced reduced vision while moving from bright sunlight to a darkened room. Scientists estimate that the human eye usually takes from 5-6 minutes to adjust to light conditions. The solution for this was to switch the patch from the covered eye to the exposed eye allowing one to see instantly in the poorly lit area with the previously covered eye. This could be a big advantage in battles involving moving from the brightly lit deck to the darkened rooms below deck. Blindly swinging the sword in the dark would be of little use if you could not find your target. This myth has been tested and has proven to be a viable reason for the stereotypical pirate patch.

The next time you wear a pirate costume to a Halloween party, just remember that the outfit may have more meaning than just the stereotype you see in the movies.