Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-06
Failing FyesIRht,
LoCKPoRT, N. Y, 1882.

The following, from Halls Journal Of
Health, will be of interest to those growing
old:
"When shall begin to wear spectacles?"
is the inquiry of all who, having passed the
uphill oflife, are making their way down
ward on the other side. The necessity of
glasses comes sooner to some than Others
according to the variety of circumstances
and conditions which are allotted to human
kind, hence it would be useless to name
any particular age. The sad necessity,
however, comes with timely warnings, each
successive one becoming more and more de-
cisive. To the hearty, healthy, temperate
and strong, the symptoms of needed spec
tacles begin to make their appearance about
the age Of fifty years. To our wives, so
unwisely industrious as to stitch, stitch, un-
til the bell strikes midnight, under the plea
81 have to do it" the indications of failing
eyesight are ten years earlier but whether
at fifty or forty, they are the same. Among
the very first is an instructive preference
for the larger print; next, and before we
are aware of it it has been found that q
habit has been formed of selecting the light
est spot in the room for reading or fine sew
ing; after awhile, year more, there is
either disposition to put the newspaper
farther from the eye, or there is some little
adjustment of it necessary in order to en-
able one to read with entire comfort ; after
awhile, there is disposition to stop read
ing for second or two, and wink the eyes
several times, or to rest them by looking
at something at distance, as if to gain
more strength to see distinctly the lines and
letters read, then comes the feeling of aid
given TO the eye by placing the fingers near
the line read, as if to steady the paper, or
as if to enable the eye to get the line more
readily.
Reader, when you find yourself reading
by the aid of your finger, thus, you are be-
ginning to be an old man; "gray hairs are
upon you;" your sight has begun to fail
you, and you should at once purchase
glasses. Those made of Brazilian pebble,
being natural glass, are the best, because
they are not so easily broken, and are not
readily scratched, and do not gather moist
ure so soon, hence do not need to be so often
wiped they are more expensive than the
common kind. Common glasses, in blue
steel frames, cost from one to three dollars;
pebble glasses six dollars.
When spectacles are first worn they
should not be employed steadily only in the
early morning or a dim light, or with fine
print or sewing.
1t is very bad practice to keep the
spectacles on all the time, in order to save
trouble, for the eyesght fails much more
rapidly under such circumstances, and
those Of greater power must be speedily
used. When the sight is beginning to fail,
the eyes should be favored as much as pos
sible; this can be done:
LIST. By sitting in such a position as will
allow the light to fall upon the page or sew
ing obliquely over the shoulder.
2nd. By not using the eyes for such pur-
poses by an artificial light, or before sun
rise or after sunset.
3rd. By avoiding the special use of the
eyes in the morning before breakfast.
4th. By resting them for half minute or
so, while reading or sewing, or looking at
things in the distance or up to the sky, re.
liefis Immediately felt by so doing.
9th. Neyer pick any collected matter from
the eyelashes or corners of the eyes with
the finger-nails; rather moisten it with
the saliva, and rub it away carefully with
the ball of the finger.
9th. Frequently pass the balls of the
fingers over the closed eyelids, toward the
nose; this carries off any excess of water into
the nose itself by means of little canal
which leads into the nostril from each cor
ner Of the eyes, which canal tends to close
up, in consequence of the ght inflammation
which attends weakness of the eyes.
7th. Keep the feet dry and warm, so as
to draw any excess Of blood from the other
end of the body.
9Th. Use eyeglasses at first, carried il
the vest pocket, attached to a guard, fol
they are instantly adjusted to the eye will
very little trouble; whereas, if common
spectacles are used, such a process is re
quired to get them ready, that to save trou
BILE, the eyes are often made TO answer
purpose.
9th. Wash the eyes abundantly ever.
morning. If cold water is used let it b
tapped against the closed eye with tn
fingers or hand, not striking hard agains
the balls Of the eyes. But ii would seen
better plan 10 open the eyes in pure We rn
water, because warm water is more pene
trating than cold it dissolves much more
readily and rapidly any hardened matter
that may be about the lids, and is NOR,
soothing and more natural.
10. The moment the eyes feel tired, the
moment you are conscious Of an effort Il
read or sew, lay aside the book or needl
and take walk for On hour, or emplo.
yourself in some active exercise not requiI
ing the close use Of the eyes.