It is believed that “piercing the ear” will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose.
Northern Ohio.

It is believed that “piercing the ear” will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose.
Source: Current Superstitions (1896), entry 844.
Fanny D. Bergen, editor.
Modern normalized navigation; the historical attribution above remains unchanged.