Why Do Pirates Wear Eye Patches?

Why did pirate wear eye patches over their eye?

Why do pirates wear eye patches? – Fun Kids – the UK’s children’s radio station It’s not because they’re missing an eye! If, like us, you thought that pirates wear eye patches because they’re missing an eye then you are mistaken! Pirates actually wore eye patches to help them see better in the dark! Our eyes take quite a while to adjust properly from light to dark – up to 25 minutes in fact! So pirates kept an eye patch over one eye at all times so they were already adjusted.

The skull and crossbones flag at the top of the pirate ship is called The Jolly RogerThey didn’t always bury their treasure right away! Pirates wanted to take their own share of their loot beforehandEach pirate ship had their own set of rules and code, including who had to do what chores and what was expected of everyone on deckBlackbeard was the most famous and most feared pirate of allPirates actually did have pet parrots! They served as a status symbol and were seen as exotic

If you like pirates, then you’ll love Jake and the Neverland Pirates! Find out more about the show, and when David Tennant guest starred in an episode! Don’t forget, you can find out more fun facts on the Fun Kids Facts App on your Amazon Alexa! Find out how below! : Why do pirates wear eye patches? – Fun Kids – the UK’s children’s radio station

Did pirates actually wear eye patches?

Eyepatches were also used to condition the eye so that pirates could fight in the dark. Long John Silver, the lead pirate character of the novel ‘Treasure Island’ had an eye patch.

What is the purpose of the eyepatch?

Eye patches can help treat some types of vision problems, especially in the case of children. Depending on the problem, you might need to wear it for several hours a day. An eye patch is a piece of fabric or other material that you wear over your eye.

1. It blocks vision in one eye and treats some vision problems with what is called occlusion therapy.
2. Patches are also common to wear after eye procedures.
3. Eye patches have a few key uses in eye care.
4. Protection.
5. Eye patches cover your eye, so they’re a great way to protect your eye after surgery or other procedures.

They can help prevent infection after cataract surgery and stop dust or other items from getting into your eye and causing irritation. A patch can also help you avoid rubbing or touching your eye after surgery. Healing. Wearing an eye patch after a procedure can protect your eye, giving it time to heal.

• You might start with gauze bandages.
• Their gentle pressure can help lower swelling and bruising. Lazy eye.
• Eye patches for kids are a common treatment for some eye conditions, like amblyopia, also called lazy eye,
• This condition occurs when vision doesn’t develop normally early in life.
• It causes problems with eyesight, and the eye wanders either inward or outward.

An eye patch is a common treatment. Squint. Sometimes, doctors recommend an eye patch for strabismus, Also called squint, strabismus occurs your eyes are misaligned. One eye drifts in, out, or up while the other looks straight ahead, which can cause vision problems.

• Without treatment, you might develop a squint, which is where the name of this condition comes from.
• Double vision.
• An eye patch can also treat double vision (diplopia).
• Double vision occurs when you look at one thing but see two images of it.
• Double vision that happens when both eyes are open is called binocular diplopia.

Closing one eye often helps, so your doctor might recommend an eye patch as treatment. There are a few types of eye patches. You can buy most over the counter at the pharmacy or from your eye doctor. If the patch is a treatment to correct poor vision, make sure it’s snug around the eye.

• That way, you or your child can’t peek around it and lose the benefits.
• Adhesive patch.
• An adhesive patch sticks to your skin over your eye like a bandage.
• These are a great option if you don’t wear glasses, but you can also wear them under your eyewear, too.
• These patches are the best for children, as they might stay on longer and make sure the eye is fully covered.

If your skin turns red or gets irritated, though, try a hypoallergenic version. Cloth patch. As it sounds, a cloth patch is made of soft fabric. It usually has a string you wrap around your head that holds it in place. It doesn’t stick to your skin and is washable and reusable.

Eyeglass lens cover. If your child wears glasses, a lens cover patch is a great option. These patches slip over your eyeglasses and temporarily block the lens. You can find them in different fabrics and prints, and they’re also washable and reusable. In a pinch, opaque tape over the lens will also work.

Eye shield and pad. These types of eye patches are the disposable gauze pads and bandages you use after eye surgery, You’ll need to use these until your eye heals up or until your doctor tells you to stop bandaging your eye. Eye patches have a few benefits, including improving your symptoms and vision.

• Strengthen a weak eye.
• If your child has a lazy eye, you place the eye patch over the dominant eye, which forces the weaker eye to work harder.
• This method can help the eye gain strength and improve vision.
• Your doctor might recommend wearing the patch between 2 to 6 hours a day, depending on your child’s vision.

You can have your child do some arts and crafts or other close-up activities during patch time to make the eye more active. Noninvasive treatment. One important benefit of eye patch therapy is that it’s inexpensive and noninvasive but also effective. Patching works best for children under age 7.

Early treatment with an eye patch can lead to greater improvement in vision and might help you avoid other, more invasive treatments. Improve symptoms. If you experience binocular double vision, an eye patch can help. The patch blocks the images from one eye, making your vision clearer. This can help lower some symptoms like nausea and headaches.

Wearing an eye patch is fairly simple:

Start by washing your hands with soap and water.Determine which eye the patch goes on. If you’re treating strabismus or lazy eye, you’ll want to place the patch on the stronger eye. Following a surgery, you’ll want to put it over the eye your doctor worked on. Make sure the skin around the eye is clean and dry.Place a new disposable patch or clean, reusable patch over the eye. Follow the instructions on the package. The narrow end should touch the bridge of the nose. Wear the patch for as long as your doctor says. Use distractions to help a child manage the adjustment.Remove the patch and apply petroleum jelly to soothe any irritated skin.

An eye patch can be uncomfortable for your child. Patch treatment for a lazy eye blocks the stronger eye, so your child will have poor vision for a while. This can be very tiring. You might find your child is emotional, doesn’t want to wear the patch, or takes it off constantly.

What is the pirate eye thing called?

Association with pirates – 1783 etching of wounded sailors Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah, once the most well known pirates in the Persian Gulf, was also the first known to wear an eyepatch after losing an eye in battle. Ex-sailors, ashore, were sometimes portrayed as having an eyepatch to cover the loss of an eye.

Medical texts have referred to the eye patch as a “pirate’s patch” and, writing in the Minnesota Academy of Sciences Journal in 1934, Charles Sheard of the Mayo foundation pointed out that by “wearing a patch (The pirate’s patch) over one eye, it will keep the covered eye in a state of readiness and adaptation for night vision”.

This technique was explored during WWII by institutes such as the United States Navy, The proposal that pirates may have worn an eyepatch so that one eye would be pre-adjusted to below-deck darkness was tested in an episode of MythBusters in 2007 and found to be plausible, but without any recorded historical precedent.

Why did pirates have yellow eyes?

Behind the scenes –

When asked about some of the characters’ health, screenwriter Terry Rossio said the likeliest cause of the yellow eyes is jaundice, a close cousin to scurvy ; or, in the case of pirate captains Hector Barbossa and Chevalle, both considered ladies men, hepetitis. Both Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide and The Complete Visual Guide confirmed Ragetti lost his eye in battle, In The Price of Freedom Ragetti was one-eyed approximately six years before he joined the crew of the Black Pearl, However, in the short comic Strangers Bearing Gifts – A Tale of the Black Pearl, Ragetti loses an eye at some unspecified point after Captain Barbossa’s crew fell under the curse of the Aztec Gold, In Jeff Nathanson ‘s earlier Dead Men Tell No Tales script drafts the Trident of Poseidon was originally decorated with a large diamond called the Eye of Poseidon,

Why is there no pirate with an eye patch in one piece?

Why No One Piece Anime Character Has An Eyepatch (Despite All The Pirates) For an anime centered on pirates, ‘s lack of a character with an eyepatch is a strange omission—however, there’s hope that one will appear before the anime ends. One Piece is an adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga of the same name.

Oda claims that One Piece will end in the next few years after both the manga and the show have been ongoing for over 20 years. Even when the One Piece manga and anime end, gives hope that the world will not run out of One Piece content any time soon. One Piece touches upon classic pirate iconography with many of its characters.

Crocodile has a huge golden hook on one of his hands, and Red Leg Zeff has a wooden peg leg after one of his legs was severed when trying to rescue Sanji. There’s also an abundance of Jolly Rogers, scraggy beards, and pirate hats. Even Rob Lucci’s pet pigeon, Hattori, plays upon the cliché of pirates owning parrots.

1. This makes the lack of any character wearing an eyepatch glaring, which is intentional from One Piece’ s mangaka Eiichiro Oda.
2. Back in 2007, Oda stated that towards the end of that appears with an eyepatch.
3. The reason that the anime has not featured an eyepatch so far is that this long-awaited moment will be rendered more impactful.

This mystery leads to several theories about who will be the eyepatch-wearer, and the most credible theories surround Luffy and Blackbeard. The possibility of a completely new character being the eyepatch-wearer cannot also be ruled out. Especially since in 2007’s One Piece Paradise, Oda stated that he’s “itching to draw” the character with an eyepatch. In Oda’s early concept art for, there’s a drawing of him with an eyepatch. While this does not confirm that Blackbeard will be the eventual eyepatch-wearer, it does lend credibility to the theory. In One Piece Paradise, Oda explains that he understands the association between the classical appearances of pirates and eyepatches.

Blackbeard is arguably the character in One Piece that is representative of modern interpretations of pirate appearances, and his appearance also shares heavily resemblances to the real-life Blackbeard, named Edward Teach. If Oda wants the eyepatch to be symbolic of the old interpretations of piracy to fully come into life in One Piece, then Blackbeard would be a prime candidate.

In One Piece Paradise, however, Oda also explains that One Piece is the story of how a ” normal looking boy ” becomes a pirate. will eventually fulfill his dream of becoming the Pirate King, and wearing an eyepatch in the anime’s finale would be emblematic of this, as it’s the last piece of pirate iconography to appear on the show.

Luffy losing an eye and wearing an eyepatch would also mirror Luffy’s backstory. As a child, Luffy stabs himself in the face to try and join Shank’s pirate crew. Luffy’s face scar is another mystery that took years until it was revealed. Since Luffy first scarred himself to try and become a pirate, it would be fitting that he could make a larger, similar sacrifice to solidify his claim to be the Pirate King, having to wear an eyepatch in the process.

It may be a while until an eyepatch appears in One Piece, but as with many things in the anime, it’ll be well worth the wait. Next: : Why No One Piece Anime Character Has An Eyepatch (Despite All The Pirates)

Who was the nicest pirate?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edward England
An 18th century woodcut of England
Born	c.  1685 Kingdom of Ireland
Died	1720/21 (aged approximately 36) St. Augustine’s Bay, Merina Kingdom
Piratical career
Nickname	Ned
Type	Pirate Former privateer
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain ( War of the Spanish Succession )
Rank	Captain
Base of operations	Southern Africa
Commands	Several vessels, most famously the Royal James and the Fancy,
Battles/wars	Battle with the Cassandra that caused his crew to mutiny and maroon him for sparing some captives.
Wealth	R 10,000,000

Edward England’s flag. Edward England ( c. 1685 –1721) was an Irish pirate, The ships he sailed on included the Pearl (which he renamed The Royal James ) and later the Fancy, for which England exchanged the Pearl in 1720. His flag was the classic Jolly Roger — almost exactly as the one “Black Sam” Bellamy used — with a human skull above two crossed bones on a black background.

Like Bellamy, England was known for his kindness and compassion as a leader, unlike many other pirates of the time. England was born Edward Seegar in Ireland around 1685. He took part in Henry Jennings ‘ expedition for the sunken 1715 Treasure Fleet off the coast of Florida, and then began sailing with Charles Vane in 1718.

Upon Vane and other prominent pirates accepting the King’s Pardon, England and some of his men sailed for Africa, Along his way he spawned the career of Bartholomew Roberts, among others. In 1720, near the African island of Comoros, England and his men got into a violent conflict with James Macrae,

After 10 days of hiding on an island, England and Macrae agreed to a peace deal, upsetting England’s crew; he was subsequently voted out as captain and marooned on the island of Mauritius, After four months, England and the loyal crewman that had been stranded with him managed to build a boat and sail to a pirate safe haven in Madagascar,

He died sometime in the winter of 1720–21, possibly from tropical disease,

Why did pirates drink rum?

Why Did Pirates Drink Rum? – Rum has been a favorite drink for generations, but it plays a special part in the history of sailors and pirates. So, why did pirates drink rum? In short, it was a valuable way to make water last longer and keep the crew in high spirits.

Why do pirates have parrots?

Reason pirates might keep a parrot as a pet – Well the reason is partially monetary, as you might expect of pirates, but it was also about status. Buccaneers who travelled to the tropics often brought home exotic animals and plants which were in high demand in the European capitals,

How do you remove an eye patch without it hurting?

Tips for Removing Adhesive Eye Patches Patching is NOT always fun – actually, who am I kidding, I don’t think it’s ever really fun for our kiddos. But trying to make it as easy as possible for kids can help them on their patching journey. If you’ve chosen to use adhesive patches for your child ensuring you apply them properly and remove them painlessly can be a big help in getting your kid to comply with the therapy.

Do remember that it can take some time for your child’s skin to get used to patching and some irritation can occur – but if they break out in a huge rash you need to stop patching immediately and ensure they are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the patch you’re using. So, here are my top tips for removing adhesive patches. 1. Break it down

All adhesive orthoptic eye patches, regardless of the brand, have an adhesive the sticks the patch to the face. The ingredients in these adhesives can all differ but before you remove the patch, it can make life a lot easier if you break the adhesive down.

I’d suggest starting with natural options such as coconut oil, olive oil or water. Simply rub a little around the outside of the patch on the adhesive part of the patch, leave for a few minutes and it should just slide right off. Non-natural alternatives you can also try are sunscreen (be careful not to get it in their eyes!) and Smith + Nephew Remove Wipes.

These wipes cost small fortune so when we used them we would seal them back up to get 3-4 days use from each one. If you want to go down that path, it’s worth having a chat with your local pharmacist to see if they’ll give you a discount for buying a whole box. 2. Don’t just rip ‘em off! Seriously – don’t! I know there are two schools of though for Band-Aid removal – the all in one go and the gently-gently but in the case of eye patches, gently-gently is the go. The skin around the eye is so sensitive that it’s just going to cause damage if you rip them straight off. 3. Recovery I mentioned barrier creams in my post about applying adhesive patches but to recap on that – allowing the skin to recover overnight when not patching can be very helpful in the long run. We found a thin layer of Sudocrem was a life saver when Dane’s skin was irritated from patching but you might find another moisturiser even better.

1. Just remember that some barrier creams will break down Kids Eye Gear adhesive patch adhesives super quickly, so make sure they’re all removed the next day when you go to patch again.
2. Our goal with our Kids Eye Gear adhesive patches was to design a patch that caused the least amount of irritation for kids’ skin.

As I’ve said, everyone’s skin is different so they might not work for everyone – finding that perfect balance of stickiness is no easy feat! Ensuring you are gentle when removing the patch can go a long way in creating a smoother road for your patching journey.

Do you keep your eye open under eye patch?

Eye Patching – When the eye patch is properly applied, patching helps promote epithelial wound healing ( Fig.1-22 ). Usually an antibiotic ointment such as erythromycin or polymyxin B/bacitracin (e.g., Polysporin) is instilled before patching. The lids must be closed, and the patch must be snug enough to keep the lids from opening underneath the patch, thereby causing an iatrogenic corneal abrasion.

1. Indiscriminate patching may be harmful, especially in cases of possible infection, because a warm, protected environment under a patched lid can facilitate bacterial growth (e.g., with contact lens–related corneal injury).
2. Some researchers advocate patching in patients with extremely large abrasions only.

Read full chapter URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323033169500073

Do you wear an eyepatch if you lose an eye?

Caring for Eye Health After Enucleation – Immediately following removal of your eye, you will have a pressure dressing. Your surgeon will provide you with details on how to care for this. In general, you cannot remove it until the surgeon does. This takes about a week.

Once the dressing is removed, you will be instructed to clean your face as usual. A prescription ointment is commonly prescribed that you will use about twice a day for a period of time specified by your surgeon. After the dressing comes off, you can usually shower as normal. However, for up to two weeks after the procedure, you are usually instructed to avoid going underwater.

It is possible for the conformer to fall out. If this happens, you should clean it according to your surgeon’s instructions and put it back into your eye. Inserting this device is similar to applying contact lenses. However, you can have a health care professional reinsert it if you are not comfortable doing so.

While it is not necessary, you can wear an eye patch during the time you are waiting for your prosthetic eye. You might choose this for cosmetic reasons, as there are no medical benefits. Some people opt for disposable patches, or you can purchase a reusable one. Once you have your prosthetic, simply follow the instructions provided by your doctor.

This typically consists of keeping the prosthetic clean and using the right technique to insert it. Your doctor will schedule a variety of follow-up appointments after your procedure. It is imperative that you keep all of these, as they allow your doctor to assess how well your eye socket is healing.

Why do pirates wear earrings?

Historical Context – In the days of piracy, it was common practice to pierce one’s ears as a sign of wealth or status. This is because gold and silver jewelry was expensive at the time, so having an earring indicated that you had money to spare on such luxuries.

Pirates also used earrings as a form of currency; if they needed supplies while out at sea, they could trade their jewelry for goods or services from merchants in port towns. Pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries wore earrings for both practical and symbolic purposes. Practically, they served as a sign of wealth or status and could be used as currency to purchase supplies while out at sea.

Symbolically, it also offered superstitious protection, too.

Do all pirates have one eye?

Some pirates did sport eyepatches, but not for the reason most people think. The popular misconception is that pirates wore eyepatches so they could already have one eye adjusted to the dark when they went below deck during battle. Indeed, there have been several experiments to see whether the practice works, including those carried out by the US Navy during WW2, and by the TV series MythBusters in 2007, although these were inconclusive.

Listen | Dr Rebecca Simon responds to your questions on the 17th-century golden age of piracy. Plus, how accurate are pop culture portrayals of pirates?

Who was a real pirate?

The Golden Age of Piracy Though pirates have existed since ancient times, the Golden Age of piracy was in the 17th and early 18th centuries. During this time more than 5000 pirates were said to be at sea. Throughout history there have been people willing to rob others transporting goods on the water.

These people, known as pirates, mainly targeted ships, though some also launched attacks on coastal towns. Many of the most famous pirates had a terrifying reputation, and they advertised this by flying gruesome flags, including the ‘Jolly Roger’ with its picture of skull and crossbones. Captives were famously made to ‘walk the plank’ – though this doesn’t appear to have been as common in reality as in fiction; in fact, it’s likely that most victims of piracy were just thrown overboard.

Pirates have existed since ancient times – they threatened the trading routes of ancient Greece, and seized cargoes of grain and olive oil from Roman ships. The most far-reaching pirates in early medieval Europe were the Vikings. Thousands of pirates were active between 1650 and 1720, and these years are sometimes known as the ‘Golden Age’ of piracy.

Why did pirates have black teeth?

Scurvy was a Major Dental Threat – Pirates were out at sea a great deal of the time, and their diets were often lacking in vital nutrients, including vitamin C. This deficiency can lead to scurvy, which can then contribute to gums that are weak and receding, causing gingivitis or other serious periodontal diseases.

What disease did pirates get?

Excerpt – Scurvy is a clinical syndrome that results from vitamin C deficiency. Tales from pirates and British sailors made the disease infamous. This disease was first reported in 1550 BC when people accurately described the diagnosis and treatment using onions and vegetables.

Hippocrates officially termed the disease “ileos ematitis” with the description, “the mouth feels bad; the gums are detached from the teeth; blood runs from the nostrils ulcerations on the legs; some of these heal skin is thin.” In the 1700s, James Lind of the British Royal Navy determined the consumption of lemons and oranges led to remission of the disease, and in 1927, the structure of ascorbic factor was published, with the synthesis of ascorbic acid named vitamin C not long after.

The vitamin C pool in the body is usually depleted in 4 to 12 weeks if one stops the intake of the vitamin. Ascorbic acid is affected by many factors that can impair absorption and its functions. The best way to prevent vitamin C deficiency is to consume fruits and vegetables regularly.

Why do pirates have gold teeth?

Did pirates have gold teeth? – It’s not uncommon to see depictions of pirates with gold teeth in popular culture. However, the reality is that while some pirates may have had gold teeth, it was not a common occurrence. In fact, the idea of pirates having gold teeth likely comes from the fact that dental care was not readily available during the time of piracy.

This led to many pirates losing teeth due to a lack of oral hygiene, poor nutrition, and injuries sustained in battle. If a pirate did lose a tooth, they might have replaced it with a variety of materials, including gold. While gold was a valuable commodity, it was not practical to use for dental work due to its softness and susceptibility to decay.

So, while some pirates may have had gold teeth, it was not a widespread practice, and certainly not a symbol of wealth or status as it is often portrayed in popular culture.

Who is the pirate captain with one eye?

William B. Pordobel, better known as One-Eyed Willy, was the pirate captain of the ship, Inferno, He was Flemish from Flanders, a region in present day Belgium (Then the Spanish Netherlands).

Why is Sanji eye covered?

It limits his sight and his depth perception in particular, and it would get hair in his open eye whenever the wind blows.

Why is Zoro one eye closed?

4. Ocular Dominance – Although this theory is far more realistic, it has been more believable for many One Piece fans. This theory entails ocular dominance, where one eye is used more often than the other – leading to enhanced eye-related abilities. Much like Pirates often wear eyepatches to become accustomed to the dark, some samurais have been said to hinder an eye in order to hone in on their combat skills. This theory would speculate that Zoro may have noticed one of his eyes being weaker than the other during training, taking some drastic measures to increase its ability.

Why does Beidou cover her eye?

7 Beidou –

Game Title/Series : Genshin Impact Reason For Eyepatch : Pirate tactic

Captain Beidou may not be the only Genshin Impact character with an eyepatch, but she’s definitely the one that most fans may think of first (sorry, Kaeya). Beidou resides in Liyue as a fleet captain of her crew, The Crux, and is an electro-vision user.

Why did pirates wear eye patches rods and cones?

Before You Go – Why did pirates wear eye patches? Now, you should know the most accepted answer to that question. Pirates likely wore eye patches to improve their night vision in the dark. Without an eye patch, it could take 20 to 30 minutes for someone to get used to a dark environment.

Did pirates wear an eye patch for night vision?

Night Vision and a Pirate’s Tale on the High Seas Discipline: Animal Biology, Literacy/Folklore Age Range: All ages, but you need at least two people — one person reading the story and the other person participating in the activity. Estimated Time: 15 minutes What you need: A flashlight or lamp; a dark room or an outside area at night Instructions: Place a hand over one eye like an eye patch.

1. Turn the flashlight (or lamp) on and place it on the ground 5 feet in front of you.
2. Making sure zero light is getting through to your covered eye, look at the items around you that the light is shining on or to the side of the light with your free eye for the duration of the night vision story — all while keeping one eye covered.

At the end of the story, turn off the light, remove your hand and look around you. Story: Long ago, there was a group of pirates known as The Eye Patch Hunters, who were notorious for taking treasure and goods from enemy ships at night without being seen. Every pirate on the ship had both eyes except for one pirate named Patches. At night when Patches would sleep, he switched his patch over to his good eye and used it as a sleeping mask, blocking out all lingering light.

1. One night, he heard a noise and he quickly switched his patch away from his good eye, ran onto the deck and peered into the black water.
2. He saw a giant whale swimming right next to the ship.
3. When his fellow pirates accompanied him on the deck, they were unable to see the whale because their eyes had not adjusted to the low light conditions like Patches’ eye.

As quickly as the whale appeared, it dove back down into the depths of the sea. Patches felt bad that his fellow crew members did not get to see this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He wondered how he was able to see the whale when no one else could. Over time, his good eye had adapted to total darkness as he slept with an eye patch giving him the ability to see better at night.

• On the other hand, his bunkmates had lantern light and moonlight seeping through their eyelids.
• Patches observed his fellow pirates and noticed that he was the only one wearing an eye patch.
• One day, he decided to use his night vision to his advantage and he came up with the idea to start stealing from other ships at night.

He cut leather eye patches out and gave them to each of his crew members. Every pirate started wearing eye patches; day by day each of their eyes adapted to total darkness. Now the pirates had the upper hand at night. The pirates painted their ship black and wore all black clothing for camouflage.

The ship was a pirate legend because a dense screen of fog always hid it even on the brightest and clearest of days. The Eye Patch Hunters would lurk in the shadows as they waited for a cargo ship to exit the port. They would follow the ship until nightfall. During the day, the pirate crew had eye patches on, allowing their covered eyes to adjust to total darkness while their free eye allowed them to see.

Once the sun had set, the pirates would hoist the mainsail and speed toward their prey. The Eye Patch Hunter pirates threw lines with grappling hooks onto their enemy’s ship. The metal thuds from the hooks woke the enemy crew that was guarding the treasure, and in their sleepy stupor, complete chaos broke out because the pirates would send gunpowder flares into the sky.

• The bright light blinded the confused the crew, which gave The Eye Patch pirates the perfect opportunity to sneak on board unseen.
• Even when the flares died out, the other crew was unable to see in the darkness because their eyes had not adjusted.
• The Eye Patch Hunters sprang into action and switched their eye patches over to their other eye allowing them to easily find the goods and treasure.

Before the enemy crew’s eyes adjusted, the pirates had already sailed away. Key Questions

1. What is night vision?
2. Which animals have advanced night vision?
3. Why do these animals use night vision?

The Science of Biological Features and Night Vision

• Certain animals, such as cats, have a mirror-like layer behind the retina called a tapetum lucidum — a shining layer that reflects visible light back through the retina. Have you ever seen an image of a deer or a cat with glowing green eyes? That glow is coming from the tapetum lucidum reflecting light.
• There are photoreceptor features in eyeballs called rods and cones that serve different functions that allow humans and animals to see; however, some animals such as owls have adapted excellent vision in low light conditions by producing more rods than humans produce.
• Rods sense dim and scattered light and do not produce color, and cones sense bright and focused light and do produce color.
• Rhodopsin is a protein pigment in rods that is sensitive to light and increases vision in low light conditions. Animals such as owls have high amounts of rhodopsin in their rods.

Vocabulary

Tapetum Lucidum: the shining layer that reflects light back through the retina

• Photoreceptor : a structure in a living organism, especially a sensory cell or sense organ, that responds to light falling on it
• Rods: Photoreceptors that sense dim or scattered light
• Cones: Photoreceptors that sense bright or focused light
• Rhodopsin: Protein pigment in rods that is sensitive to light

: Night Vision and a Pirate’s Tale on the High Seas

Did pirates wear eye patches for better night vision?

It is most likely a modern myth that pirates wore them to preserve their ability to see in the dark hold of a ship ; while this would offer some advantage in that case, it is not worth the disadvantage of losing critical depth perception, especially during the dangerous operation of boarding a ship.