Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-01-18
On the Use q spectacies.

be made than tie one which is involved in
the prevslent idea that the use of spectarl-
es should be put off rs long as possible.
This becomes evident at glance as soon
as II is understood that the case IS one of
incapacity of the lens of the eye to adapt
itself to near vision in consequence of loss
of accommodating power. The continued
e1Drt Of the delicate mechanism of the eye
to accomplish task which Is beyond the
measure of its capacity must be necessarily
be attended with an injurious, as well as a
painful strain. Squirting is one of the
evil consequences which are apt to ensue
If such fruitless efforts are long persevered
IN. Sir. Carter remarks upon this point
in the following monitory strain: 1.-The
effect of accommodation is precisely that
of adding convex lens to the passive eye,
and so, when accommodation fails, we eau
supply It's place by adding the required
lens by art. To do this is the ordinary
function of the spectacles which are re-
quired by all people. if their eyes were
originally natural, as time rolls on. The
principles on which such spectacles should
be selected is that they should be strong
enough to be effectual, and they should pe
used rs soon as they are required. Opticians
often supply glasses which are too weak to
accom- olish what is needed, and which
leave the eyes still struggling with an il
trinity from which they ought to be en-
tlrely relieved, while the public frequently
endeavor TO postpone what they look upon
as an evil day and do not obtain the help
of glasses until they have strlven hard and
fruitlessly to do without them. These are
important practical errors. 1t cannot he
too generally understood that spectacles,
instead of being q nuisance, or an lncum
b-ance, or an evidence of bad sight, are 10
the farslghted luxury beyond description
clearing outlines which were beginning to
be shadowy. frightening colors which were
beginning to fade, intensifying the light re-
aecied from objects by permitting them to
be brought closer to the eyes, and Instant
ly restoring near vision to point from
which, for ten or dozen years previously,
it had been slowly and imperceptibly but
steadily declining. This return to juveD-
ility of sight is one of the most agreeable
experiences of middle age, AMI the proper
principle, therefore, IS to recognize loss OF
near sight early, End to give optical help
literally, usually commencing with lenses
of plus /. 25 or plus l. 80 so as to render
the muscles of accommodation not only
able TO perform their tasks, but able 10
perform them easily. When, as will hap
pen after u wnile, in consequence of the
steady decline of accommodation, yet more
power is required, the glasses may be
strengthened by from half a dioptic to a
dioptic at time, and the stronger glasses
should at first be taken iuto use only by
artificial light; the original pair, as long as
they are found sufficient for this purpose,
being still worn in the daytime The
common prejudice against uS,ng spectacles
a, soon as the impairment of tie sight be-
gins to be observed with advancing age
appears to have unfortunately arisen from
the fact that there Is serious disorder OF
the eye, known as glaucoma, which Is at
| tended with obscure vision, resembling
that of old sight, but which is nevertheless
altogether different in its essential condi
ton. The mischief in glaucoma usually
proceeds with an accelerated pace. Strong
er and stronger glasses are used on account
of the assistance which each fresh accession
of strength at first gives. But the sufferer
in the end becomes hopelessly blind, and
the result lie then enormously attributed 10
the infiuece of the glasses which have been
employed, although as matter OF fact
this has had nothing whatever to do with
the Issue of tue case. The injury to the
sight in such instances is really due to ar
over-tense state of the eyeball having beer
set up, and to the destruction, in conse-
quence of abnormal pressure, Of the deli
cate nerve-slructures within. Mr. Carter
unhesitatingly affirms that the habitual ust
of strong magnifying glasses is not injuri
Gus to ordinary eyes, and he supports his
opinion in this partIculsr by referring tc
the circumstance that wa.chmaSers, VINO
commonly employ magnifying glasses II
their work, in reality enj ~ a very envi
able immunity from diseases OF the eye.
1t appears that it is quite an unusual thin!
to find working matchmaker among III
patients of an Ophthalmlc hospital. MIR
Carter holds the habltual exercise of In
eye upon fine work, such as these men arr
engaged in tends to the development AM
preservation of the powers OF vision, lathe
than to their injury.