Cranky has a great suggestion:
My grandmother used to do this when bathing my sisters and I, and it was great. No water splashing down over your face. I still hate that sensation- it makes me “lose my breath”, kind of. I don’t know how to explain it, but it worked great for me. Two clean, dry washcloths pressed over my eyes did the trick.
Tried that one too, the washcloth thing. Worked ok - but doesn’t work if you already have the equivalent of a cat in the tub. Cats and tantrum having toddlers can’t hold the washcloth over their eyes - and mom lacks enough hands to handle washcloth, toddler and whatever she’s using to douse.
Funny that the subject of cat bathing came up – when I saw the thread title I immediately thought of How to Give a Cat a Bath (scroll down to Method #2). Unfortunately I don’t think a two-year-old would fit in the bowl. 
Depending on your financial situation it might be worth trying to “buy bath-happiness”. You and little one go out shopping and let him choose his own towel just for him, let him choose some bathbubbles that are also just for him (for example The Body Shop has groovy “flavours” like bubblegum etc) let him also get some of those little bubble-bath mini-things that are shaped like cats and elephants and stuff, the ones that dissolve? Remember to get kid-friendly ones, some of them might not be so mild. That and a bathtime toy and he should be raring to go 
I know I am!
Check out the tub-paints, the bucket thing has paints, crayons and other toys!! WANT!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/283040/ref%3Dbr_bx_c_1_3/102-5093333-9468900