An eyepatch is a small patch that is worn in front of one eye. It may be a cloth patch attached around the head by an elastic band or by a string, an adhesive bandage, or a plastic device which is clipped to a pair of glasses. It is often worn by people to cover a lost, infected, or injured eye, but it also has a therapeutic use in children for the treatment of amblyopia. Eyepatches used to block light while sleeping are referred to as a sleep mask.
An eyepad or eye pad is a soft medical dressing that can be applied over an eye to protect it. It is not necessarily the same as an eyepatch.Google search
History In the years before advanced medicine and surgery, eyepatches were common for people who had a lost or injured eye. They were particularly prevalent among members of dangerous occupations, such as soldiers and sailors who could lose an eye in battle. While stereotypically associated with pirates, there is no evidence to suggest the historical accuracy of eye patch wearing pirates before several popular novels of the 19th century (see Association with pirates below).
Medical uses
Amblyopia Eye patching is used in the orthoptic management of children at risk of lazy eye (amblyopia), especially strabismic or anisometropic amblyopia. These conditions can cause visual suppression of areas of the dissimilar images by the brain such as to avoid diplopia, resulting in a loss of visual acuity in the suppressed eye and in extreme cases in blindness in an otherwise functional eye.Final Activity and Management Report Summary - SVS (Strabismus and visual suppression) , CORDIS Patching the good eye forces the amblyopic eye to function, thereby causing vision in that eye to be retained. It is important to perform "near activities" (such as reading or handiwork) when patched, thereby exercising active, attentive vision.
A study provided evidence that children treated for amblyopia with eye patching had lower self-perception of social acceptance. To prevent a child from being socially marginalized by their peers due to wearing an eye patch, atropine eye drops may be used instead. This induces temporary blurring in the treated eye.
It has been pointed out that the penalization of one eye by means of patching or atropine drops does not provide the necessary conditions to develop or improve binocular vision. Efforts have been made to propose alternative treatments of amblyopia that do allow for the improvement of binocular sight, for example, using binasal occlusion or partially frosted spectacles in place of any eye patch, using alternating occlusion goggles or using methods of perceptual learning based on video games or virtual reality games for enhancing binocular vision.
A 2014 Cochrane Review sought to determine the effectiveness of occlusion treatment on patients with sensory deprivation amblyopia, however no trials were found eligible to be included in the review. However, it is suggested that good outcomes from occlusion treatment for sensory deprivation amblyopia rely on compliance with the treatment.
Extraocular muscle palsy To initially relieve double vision (diplopia) caused by an extra-ocular muscle palsy, an eye care professional may recommend using an eyepatch. This can help to relieve the dizziness, vertigo and nausea that are associated with this form of double vision.O'Sullivan, S.B & Schmitz, T.J. (2007). Physical Rehabilitation. Philadelphia, PA: Davis. .
Use by aircraft pilots Aircraft pilots used an eye patch, or close one eye to preserve night vision when there was disparity in the light intensity within or outside their aircraft, such as when flying at night over brightly lit cities, so that one eye could look out, and the other would be adjusted for the dim lighting of the cockpit to read unlit instruments and maps.Roy Brocklebank (2005). WORLD WAR III – The 1960s Version. Journal of Navigation, 58, pp 341-347 Some military pilots have worn a lead-lined or gold-lined eyepatch, to protect against blindness in both eyes, in the event of a nuclear blast or laser weapon attack.Nuclear flash eye protection, Steen Hartov
Eyepatches are not currently used by military personnel; modern technology has provided an array of other means to preserve and enhance night vision, including red-light and low-level white lights, and night vision devices.
Association with pirates
Ex-sailors ashore sometimes wore an eye patch to cover the loss of an eye, but pirates rarely wore eye patches while aboard ships. There were some exceptions, including Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami, a well-known pirate of the Persian Gulf, who wore an eye patch after losing an eye in battle.
It has been suggested that pirates before electric lighting wore eyepatches to keep one eye adjusted to darkness ahead of a boarding operation, so that they would be ready to fight below deck where the lighting was poor. 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 said 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. This idea was tested in an episode of MythBusters in 2007 and found to be plausible, but this application has never been documented in any historical naval manual.
Notable wearers
Sir Adrian Carton de WiartNational Portrait Gallery Ana de Mendoza Sightseeing Madrid - The Princess of Eboli André De TothThe Herald - Glasgow (UK) Nov 4, 2002 Andrew VachssSt. Louis Post Dispatch Barbara Boggs Sigmund Bobby Helms Bruce PetersonBruce Peterson Bio Lee Majors Online Bushwick BillOur favorite eyepatch heroes Maxim magazine Charles H. Bonesteel IIIScenes from an Unfinished War: Low-Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966–1968 by Major Daniel P. Bolger Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray Claus von StauffenbergIs Horrible 'Valkyrie' Tom Cruise's Nazi Apologia?Fox News Dale ChihulyDale Chihuly opens Rhode Island school gallery MSNBC Dale D. MyersNASA Oral History TranscriptNASA Dan Crenshaw Date MasamuneSohachi Yamaoka, Date Masamune. David BowieGreat Moments in Eye PatchesThe New York Times Dick CurlessBangor Daily News, May 26, 1995 Dušan Prelević"Preminuo Dušan Prelević", novosti.rs Floyd GibbonsNew York Day by Day Miami Herald Francisco de OrellanaColombia 1993 Lions Club International Amblyopia Prevention Campaign Digital Disability François Coli Boston Globe Mar 8, 1987 Fritz LangScorsese's film `Journey' whirls through magnificent obsession The San Diego Union GabrielleDreams come true again The Herald - Glasgow (UK) Jan 31, 2000 George MaciunasFluxus Reader by Ken Friedman publisher Academy Editions George MellyJazz singer George Melly dies ABC News Jack Coggins James Joyce Jan SyrovýJan Syrový Jan ŽižkaVojenské osobnosti předválečné armády - Armádní generál Jan Syrový Jason Trost Jean-Marie Le Pen John Ford José Millán AstrayJosé Millán and Terreros Base documental d'Història de Catalunya Contemporary. Biografies. (1800–1931) Biografies. (1800–1931) Lewis Williams Douglas Lisa Lopes Luís de CamõesLuis Vaz de Camões Catholic Encyclopedia María de Villota Marie Colvin Martin Bayerle Maxie Anderson Momus Moshe Dayan Mother AngelicaA LIFE OF PRAYER FOR EWTN STAR STROKES BRING MOTHER ANGELICA FULL CIRCLE Saint Paul Pioneer Press - May 3, 2003 Nicholas Ray Nick Popaditch Nicolas-Jacques ContéNicolas-Jacques Conté Norm Clarke Olaf Scholz (see Scholz eye patch) Patrick Leigh Fermor Pete Burns Peter Gatien Rahmah ibn Jabir al-JalahimahThe Scourge of the Pirate Coast QatarVisitor Raoul WalshTV: Focus on Directors; Raoul Walsh Is Rewarding Subject in Channel 13's 'Men Who Made Movies' The New York Times Ray SawyerRay Sawyer The Spokesman-Review, Dec 22, 1978 Richard TesaříkRichard Tesařík Richard W. RahnRichard W. Rahn, Cato Institute. Accessed December 4, 2008. Rich WilliamsKansas '70s superstars lead lineup of Celebration bands By DAVID BURKE The Herald & Review August 4, 1999 Ron HamiltonInterview with Ron Hamilton (Patch the Pirate) The Baptist Voice Juan José Padilla Ruger Salman Rushdie'What I actually look like': Salman Rushdie shares first selfie since 2022 attack Sammy Davis Jr. Sheila GishSheila Gish Renowned British actress of stage and screen by Carole woods Herald Scotland March 14, 2005 Sir Francis BryanWeir, Henry VIII, p. 262. Slick Rick Victor PageWithout Bad Luck, He'd Have No Luck at All by John Branch The New York Times March 24, 2006 Wiley PostPOST, WILEY HARDEMAN Texas State Historical Association R. D. Matthews
In fiction An eyepatch can be used in fiction to lend an additional dimension to a character, an air of mystery or general je ne sais quoi.
See also Orthoptist Blindfold Haploscope Diplopia Domino mask Binocular vision Stereopsis
References
External links
International Orthoptic Association