The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-28
Spectacles-Their Use and Abuse.

Spectacles- Use and Abuse.
THE following interesting and in
structive article was written by Thomas
+. Nelson, well-known Chicago opti-
clan:
Among all the numerous appliances
of whatever kind or nature designed for
the purpose of giving aid and comfort
to mankind, there are none of such gen.
eral Importance, and at the same time
so little appreciated or understood, as
eyeglasses or spectacles.
From usage or custom people have
come to consider them as essential, and
even Indispensable, at some time in q
persons life, but as to the scsen and hoD
of fitting them, but few thoughts are
given, although there is an old idea
i" that the longer person can do with
out glasses the BETTER" which has been
the cause Of u great deal of inconve-
nience as well as injury.
1t seems somewhat strange that SO
delicate an organ as the eye should be
permitted to receive such rough treat
mcnt at the hands of the public in gen.
eral, and in particular at the hands of
(so-called) opticians, jewelers., and,
such trash as would blind One-half the
population of the United States in u
years time, if they persisted in using
them after they have been purchased
not always because of the quality of
the glasses fitted, but because of the
bungling, incompetent manner in which
the selection is made.
When should person commence to
wear glasses? This is question de-
pending on SO many causes and condi-
tons peculiar to each individual, that
to attempt to answer by fixing date
would prove an arbitrary rule that
would apply to only a very small pro-
portion. This one fact is understood
and acknowledged, that when glasses
are needed to counteract the failure of
distinct vision from age or other causes,
it will be felt very soon after the neces-
sity appears; and for comfort and con-
vehiencc, if for no other reason, steps
should be taken at once to have glasses
properly selected and fitted.
1t often happens that glasses are
actually a necessity and should bc worn
where their necessity has never been
suspected; in cases Of this kind optical
defects exist that increase with time,
and when the difficulty begins to be
felt and the Inconvenience noticed, the
INJURY is beyond satisfactory assist
ancc, and the result is weak and con-
stantly failing sight, if not absolute
loss of vision. Other defects exist that,
while they do not work positive injury,
are inconvenient, and with the aid of
glasses can be almost entirely over
come.
Glasses in all cases demand great
care, knowledge and experience to have
them properly fitted, and it might he
well to state right here, that unless they
are properly fitted they are far worse
than none ut all. The ordinary method
pursued by jewelers., opticians, travel
ers, ETC., is to place before the uictisa a
number of pairs of different focus, and
allowing him or her, as the case may
I, be, to try on each pair until one is
found with which the person can read
best, entirely ignoring the fact that it is
seldom, if ever, the glass that gives the
best results in Il single tria. of a great
many pairs will prove to be the one
suited to constant use; and, again, ex.
animation shows that in very large
proportion there exists difference in
the two eyes of each individual which
requires the fitting of a different lens to
each eye, for to see distinctly and com
fortably the two eyes must work ex.
actly together and within the power Of
the little muscles that control the eye
These factors must always enter into
the calculation in the proper fitting o.
every pair of glasses by the intelligent
optician or jeweler:
l. The natural or hereditary condi
ton of the eye, which will show the
existence of optical defects that may
have been caused by disease or acct
dent, or that have existed from birth.
2. The power Of accommodation O
each eye separately and together, ant
for both near and distant vision.
3. The general condition of health.
4. The occupation or profession
showing the proportion of strain to b.
placed upon them by use.
Under these general heads come /:
mass of information that is necessar,
to the proper selection of glasses, AM
which renders it impossible to arriv,
at any correct conclusion without prop
erly understanding the subject and tn,
force of the various conditions.
To be thoroughly familiar with these
causes and conditions requires years o
study and considerable experience.
And now word in regard to thu
quality of the lenses and the manner il
which they are fitted in the frames: I'm
less they are first-class white flint o.
pebble properly ground (not pressed,
and securely set and centered in tn,
frames, they are worse than none. Th'
great advantages claimed for pcbble
by travelling vendors or incompeten
dealers do not exist, and their wonder
full properties are only a cover for a biz
glasses sold for pebble are white flint
The only advantage the pebble hav'
over the best quality of white flint i
their extreme hardness, which renders
them susceptible of high polish, ant
they are not easily scratched.
The cheap trash fitted with glassc
pressed into the shape of lenses shoult
be avoided. Look over your friend
and acquaintance, and see how man,
of them are suffering injury and incon
venicnce from weak or failing sight
and should you be able to trace it bacl
you will discover its existence dating
from and irritated by badly fitted Of
trash eyeglasses or spectacles.
Life In Italy.
THE Italians live very simply. The