When I was in the Army, we were instructed to keep one eye closed when flares were launched (in order to maintain night vision when the flare died off). This was done under basically the same principle as the pirate patch.

In terms of the myth, though I can see the principle behind someone wearing a patch for the purpose of maintaining night vision, I still have doubts a pirate would give up his stereoscopic eyesight because he may have to go beneath deck. I think this would put him at an extreme disadvantage in combat.

I'm not suprised this one worked.

hahaha i think this is my favorite episode....mannn i cant really believe that!!! i want to try it...hahaha jamie and adam...they're very funny when they used that patched eye....

While the mechanics of the test were correct (preserving low-light vision) the context was all wrong. The myth was that a pirate would need to have immediate low-light vision without waiting for his eyes to adjust because of the urgency of a combat situation.

Well, in a combat situation, especially one involving large groups of angry men with swords, to deliberately give up that much vision pretty much guarrentees that seeing below deck is not going to be an issue. You're going to die on the upper deck, in the bright shining sun.

I would like to know how far back there are official manuals for organizations like the USMC and/or the Royal Navy. These guys were the professionals at shipboard combat. If the Marines wore an eyepatch going into combat, then I'd give maybe some credence to the idea. I have NEVER heard any reference to the pros using an eye patch like this. Only in books and movies because to some people (and I do NOT get this either!!) this particular form of mutilation is attractive, or interesting, or something positive. How can a mutilation, particularly a gruesome one like a missing eye, be a positive thing?

Getting back to the original point of my post, to get a valid test of this idea, the test should have involved Adam and Jamie "fighting" their way to the door to the darkened room, being opposed by Grant and Tory wielding fake swords. See if they were able to even reach the dark before seeing how they do in the dark. There is an expression - being "blindsided". Think about what that means, then would you willingly put yourself at that disadvantage in a combat situation?