Hmm Wikipedia (the font of all truth in knowledge) says:
Quote:
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It has been speculated that sailors who often went above and below deck might have used an eye patch to keep one eye adjusted to the darkness below decks.[2] The strong sunlight while above deck on an oceangoing vessel could require minutes of adaptation to the dim lighting below deck. With virtually no light sources below deck, sailors would have to rely heavily upon their eyes to adjust. In the critical moments of modifying the rigging, navigating, and especially during battle, those minutes were too precious. A simple switch of the patch from one eye to the other might have saved time when going between decks. However, this usage of the eyepatch is not supported by any historical records.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyepatch
The thought of pilots using them is a little scary, though. I'd like them to have some distance perception going on there......