Why are eye patches usually a blaringly obvious BLACK?!
Question:
Why are eye patches usually a blaringly obvious BLACK?
Why are eye patches almost always black (cup as well as strap)? Obviously, a patch is nothing to be ashamed of. HOWEVER, it's also not necessarily something you want to jump out at people as the first thing they notice about you! I must admit, it's hard not to inadvertantly stare at a big black patch -- it's just stands out so starkly! I've even seen young kids act AFRAID of people with black eye patches, sadly. :(
Why aren't more patch/strap sets produced in beige (for folks of Caucasian or lighter Asian descent) or brownish (for folks of African, Indian or darker Hispanic descent)?? I actually HAVE SEEN patches in beige, and they were so 'discreet' that I almost didn't even notice at first! They looked so good! :) I just don't understand why more folks don't use such patch/strap sets? Do they enjoy being stared at? Do they enjoy scaring little kids? I'd think NOT. Or perhaps the problem is that such patches aren't readily available -- and if that's the case, why not?
Answers:
I loved Jess' answer above, kids are amazing with what they are afraid of vs. enthralled by. I think if I ever had to wear an eye patch I would do the same thing, and say "aargh!" a lot.
But to answer your original question, I think it is mostly for the same reason that Henry Ford made his first product available in "any color, so long as it's black". Black is one of those universally acceptable colors that is cheap and plentiful. Not to mention that not everyone who wears an eye patch has lost an eye, sometimes it for an injury and black will block the light better than any other color.