You should pray before you study the Bible.
Not because prayer is magic or a required formality, but because prayer is an expression of your belief.
Prayer shows belief in God, trust in His words, and humility before studying the words that give eternal profit.
The Bible is not like any other book. It requires belief to work effectually in you (1 Thess 2:13). The natural man does not receive them. Knowing the things of God in scripture requires spiritual discernment (1 Cor 2:14).
Prayer is an act of submission. Bowing your head before you open the book can help you remember your submission to the words of God.
Prayer is spiritual. Closing your eyes before you read the words can remind you that its contents are spiritually discerned by faith.
Prayer is not a guarantee that you will learn or understand what you read, nor does it magically bless your interpretation.
However, praying before you study can bring you to the Bible believing it. And believing Bible study will open your eyes to the truth.
Spiritual eyes come from first closing yours in prayer.
For your edification,
Justin “heavy eyelids” Johnson