Do minor eye injuries heal better with or without an eye patch?

Eye patches probably don’t help small scratches on the cornea to heal faster. They may even slow down the recovery somewhat.
Your cornea may become slightly scratched if a small object gets into your eye – for instance, if you get a grain of sand under an eyelid or under a contact lens. Minor superficial scratches on the cornea will usually heal by themselves within two to three days.
In the meantime, some people cover their eye with an eye patch to keep it closed and relaxed. There are possible reasons both for and against wearing a patch: On the one hand, it might speed up the healing process by reducing blinking that irritates the scratch. On the other hand, keeping the eye closed could, for instance, make it more prone to infection.