Can the Eyes "See" without the Brain?

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The Seer, That which is Seen, & The Act of Seeing

I absolutely love this question. I understand that you've tagged it as science, so I'll try not to get philosophical with you.

Some Physiology: Eyes & Brain

The straight-forward answer (which becomes more complex as you dig into it) to your question is: the eyes are actually an extension of your brain; they are physiologically connected. Both are needed for the sense of vision and the perceptions/subjective-interpretations that follow.

The eyes take in information which then travels as electrical activity (your entire brain communicates via electro-chemical activity, by the way) to your brain. The Occipital lobe of your brain is responsible for translating that visual data. 

However, it's worth noting that the Prefrontal Cortex (a more recent addition/more evolved part of your brain) has a lot to do with how you uniquely perceive what you see.

So, in a sense, the Eye does "see" because it takes in information - however - you, as a human being with subjective experience, need to utilize parts of your brain to translate that information into a way that makes sense to you individually.

If A Tree Falls...

Applying the saying that goes something like: if a tree falls in the woods and no human, animal, or creature capable of hearing it are around, does it make a sound?

The answer, of course, is no. This is because sound, by definition, is a product of perception. That does not mean, however, that the waves of energy that emit from the tree don't exist.

The same goes with sight. If you, or anything, cannot see the tree, then no sight exists: even with your eyes! This is because sight is a product of perception and you need your eyes & brain in working order (as vaguely discussed above) in order to see.

Hope That Helps!

Let me know if you have any other cool & unusual questions like this. They are fun to think about and answer!