comment: >
context: This is a friendly reminder to read our rules.
  Remember, /r/Showerthoughts is for showerthoughts, not "thoughts had in the shower!"
  (For an explanation of what a "showerthought" is, please read this page.)
  Rule-breaking posts may result in bans. >
  
  Using this opportunity to mention the theory about eye patches being the old-timey equivalent of night vision. You keep one eye in the dark aboard a ship so if you have to go below decks, you switch the eye the patch is over. Then you can instantly see well in the dim light. >
  
  This is completely the right answer but as a guy who is legally blind in one eye, it is barely a handicap. You adapt and improve. They could function perfectly with one of their good eyes covered. >
  
  Legend has it that pirates didn’t usually have one eye if they had an eyepatch they wore them voluntarily so when they ran below decks from bright sunlight they could have one eye already dark-adjusted and cover up the other until it adjusted. Idk just something my dad used to say. >
  
  Lol came here to share the same thing. OP is going to get ~~bombarded~~ broadsided with this exact pirate factoid.