What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Eyepatches have been around for thousands of years. We began by using them to protect our eyes and promote healing, but also to cover our eyes for aesthetic purposes (e.g. blindness). We most often associate them with pirates, but why, really? Today, eyepatches are mostly used for medical purposes, where they are utilized to treat a number of conditions, and as fashion accessories.
In this gallery, we explore the history of the eyepatch and its famous wearers. Click on for more.
The use of eyepatches for medical purposes dates back to the 16th century, when French surgeon Ambroise Paré pioneered its use to treat eye injuries.
The stereotypical association of eyepatches with pirates remains popular to this day. Indeed, during the 17th and 18th centuries pirates were known to wear them. But why?
It’s believed that pirates did so to improve night vision. Covering one eye would allow them to keep one eye adjusted to the darkness.
This is, however, just a theory. It may well be that pirates simply wore eyepatches to cover up eye injuries or to look more intimidating.
Nonetheless, keeping one eye adjusted to night vision for going below deck was actually a technique employed during World War II by the US Navy.
Eyepatches are practical and effective ways to protect injured eyes from damage and promote healing. Pictured is The Who front man Roger Daltrey wearing an eyepatch to protect his eye following an injury.
Examples where eyepatches could be used as protective instruments include recovery from eye infections, corneal abrasions, and post-surgery. Pictured is Princess Michael of Kent wearing an eyepatch following eye surgery in 2015.
Eyepatches are also used to cover up the eye for aesthetic reasons (e.g. blindness).
Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, occurs when the nerve signals between the brain and the eye don’t work properly. Eyepatches are sometimes used to stimulate the weaker eye to work.
By covering the stronger eye with an eyepatch (usually for two to six hours), the weaker eye has to work harder, which can improve amblyopia.
Strabismus, also known as hypertropia and crossed eye, is a vision disorder where the eyes are misaligned. Again, an eyepatch can be used to stimulate the weaker eye.
Diplopia, also known as double vision, occurs when there’s a loss of visual focus, giving the perception of a single object being displaced into two images. An eyepatch may help when this occurs due to extraocular muscle palsy.
The use of an eyepatch is particularly helpful in relieving symptoms such as dizziness and nausea, often associated with this type of double vision.
Eyepatches can help improve depth perception. By covering one eye, the brain relies on the visual information received from a single eye, which is often more accurate when it comes to depth perception.
The allure of the eyepatch has made its way to a number of fictional characters. One example is John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 film 'True Grit.'
Daryl Hannah's role as Elle Driver in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004) is yet another example.
The Marvel Comics character Nick Fury also wears an eyepatch. Samuel L. Jackson has played the character in a number of MCU projects.
Danger Mouse, the star of the iconic 1980s British animated television series of the same name, also wore an eyepatch.
General Chang (played by Christopher Plummer) in ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’ (1991) is yet another character who wears an eyepatch.
Wendy Robie played Nadine Hurley in David Lynch's series ‘Twin Peaks’ (1990–1991) She too wore an eyepatch.
Another example is actress Olivia de Havilland playing Spanish Princess Ana of Eboli in ‘That Lady’ (1955).
Bette Davis also wore an eyepatch in her role as Mrs Taggart in Roy Ward Baker's 'The Anniversary' (1968).
Eyepatches are also worn as fashion accessories. One example is David Bowie, who wore one in the mid-1970s.
Madonna is also known for wearing eyepatches as part of her look. Here she is wearing one during a performance.
Sid Vicious, the late bassist of the British punk rockers Sex Pistols, also wore an eyepatch as a fashion accessory.
Rihanna also knows how to rock the eyepatch look. The singer wore one during the 2008 American Music Awards in LA.
British singer Gabrielle has worn her trademark eyepatch for many years. She had ptosis, the drooping of one eyelid, as a child.
American filmmaker John Ford lost sight in his left eye and often wore an eyepatch.
Sources: (Astropic Eye Patch) (HAD)
See also: Vision-impaired celebrities who struggle with sight
The intriguing history of eyepatches (and who rocked them!)
From medical aid to fashion accessory
LIFESTYLE Accessories
Eyepatches have been around for thousands of years. We began by using them to protect our eyes and promote healing, but also to cover our eyes for aesthetic purposes (e.g. blindness). We most often associate them with pirates, but why, really? Today, eyepatches are mostly used for medical purposes, where they are utilized to treat a number of conditions, and as fashion accessories.
In this gallery, we explore the history of the eyepatch and its famous wearers. Click on for more.