The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-04
MEAnlNG GLASSEs,,


a Chapter on the Use OF SpectaeIes.
No more mischievous mistake can well
be made than the one which is involved in
the prevalent idea that the use of specta-
cles should be put OF as long as possible.
This becomes evident at a glance us soon
as it 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
oil accommodating power. One continued
effort OF the delicate mechanism OF the eye
to accomplish task which is beyond the
measure OF its capacity must necessarily be
attended with an injurious rs well us a
painful strain. Squirting is one OF the
evil consequences which are apt to ensue
il such fruitless efforts are long persevered
in. Mr. Carter remarks upon this point in
the following admonitory strain: 1.-THE
effect Of accommodation is precisely that Of
adding convex lens 10 the passive eye,
and so, when accommodation fails, we can
supply its place by adding the re-
quired lens by art. To do this is
the ordinary functions OF the spectaCles
which are required by all people, il their
eyes were originally natural, as time lis
on. The principle on which such spec
taCles should be selected is that they should
be strong enough to be etTeCtual, and they
should be used assoon us they are required.
Opticians often supply glasses which are too
weak to accomplish what is needed, and
which leaves the eyes still struggling with
an infrmity from which they ought to be
entirely relieved, while the public frequent.
" endeavor to postpone what they look
upon rs an evil day, and do not obtain the
help Of glasses until they have striyen hard
and iruitlessly TO do without them. These
are important practical errors. 1t cannot
be toogenerally understood that spectaCles,
instead OF beinga nuisance or an incum.
brance, or an evidence Of bad sight, are, to
the iar.sighted, luxury beyond descrip.
ton, clearing outlines which were begin.
ming to be shadowy, Frightening coiors
which were beginning to fade, intensifying
the light reflected from objects by permit.
ting them to be brought closer to the eyes,
and instantly restoring near vision 10 a
point IRON which, for ten OF dozen wears
previously, it had been slowly and imper.
ceptibly but steadily declining. This re.
turn 10 juvenility OF sight is ono OF the
most agreeable experiences OF middle age,
and the proper principle, therefore, is 10
recognize loss OF near sight early, and TO
give optical help literally, usually COM
mencing with lenses OF plus l.25 or plus
l.50, so as to render the muscles OF accom-.
mediation not only able to perform their
tasks, but able to perform them easily.
When, as will happen after n while, in
consequence OF the steady decline OF ac-
Commodation, yet more power is required.
the glasses may DO strengthened By from
half u dioptic TO q dioptic at time, and the
stronger glasses should ut first be taken int
use only by artificial light; the origina
pair, as long us they are found sufIicien
Tor this purpose, being still worr
in the daytime" The common
prejudice against using specta
cles as soon as the impairment OF the sigh
begins to be observed with advancing 40
APPEARS to have unfortunately arisen from
the fact that there is serious disorder @
the eye known .as glaucoma, which is al
tended with obscure vision, resembling thu
: Of old sight, but which is nevertheless alto
gether different in its essential condition
The mischief in glaucoma usually proceed
with IN accelerated pace. Stronger IN
stronger glasses are used on account Of III
assistance which each fresh accession (
strength ut frst gives. But the sufferer i
the end becomes hopelessly blind, and Ii
result is then erronously attributed to n
Influence Of the glasses which have bee
employed, although rs a matter Of fact III
e has had nothing whatever to do wit
the issue Of the case, The Il
Jury to the sight in such L
stancps IL pnallv dina N ~, o,,a. ts,,1s a.
Of the eye.ball having been set up, and
: the destruction. in consequence Of abno
NAL pressure, Of tho delicate nerve stru
/, lures within, Mr.. Carter unhesitatinp
I afIlrms that the habihlal use Of strong mn
I niiying glasses Is not injurious 10 oriina
!. eyes, and he supports this opinion In Ii
{ particular by referring to the circumstan
that watch.makers, who commonly empl,
nsgnifying glasses in their work, In reali
: enjoy very enviable immunity from d