The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-01-24
SIGHT RESTORED.
A Brilliant and Successful SUR
Il gicaA Operation.

b. BheuA VP1EutAOHs
Galveston News.
A few days since, at the invitation
of a distinguished oculist, reporter oi
the Ptcdyune was present at remark,
able and most interesting surgical
operation by the successful perform.
ance of which one who had been blind
for five years was made to see.
The patient, Mrs. Lyons, of Orange,
Texas, is bright and clipper old lady
almost seventy years of age, and dur
ing that long period of five years she
has been hslpIesSly, and as she thought,
hopelessly, blind. Mrs. Lyons came
to New Orleans some two weeks ago
for the purpose Of consulting physi-
clan regarding her eyesight. 1t had
been q long and tiresome journey for
an old and blind woman to make, and
several days of rest were required be-
fore the preliminary examination, at
which, however, she learned her sight
could he restored. Accordingly on
the following Friday morning the at
tending oculist, DIR. c. NJ. Prentice,
the reporter of the Picayane, and
several ladies', including Mrs. l.. J.
Norman and Mrs. Louis LeVeque, of
Lake Charles, assembled in the apart
ments Of Mrs. Lyons, at No. 444
Baronne street. The brave old lady
was quite ready to receive her guests
and made them welcome with all that
indescribRbly touching charm of man
ner that belongs to those sad ones
whose eyes are curtaned from the
light of day.
A brief while WAS spent in conver-
'ation, during which time DR., Prem
tice noislessl ly arranged the seven shines
ing little instruments with which the
operation was to be performed, watched
meanwhile with greatest interest by
all save the one most concerned.
There were but two persons in the
room whose nerves were not all in
quiver with excitement, and those two
were the handsome, chcery, confident
physician and the patient, The oper-
alton was to be performed without the
use Of chloroform, and required the
most absolute skill and coolness on
the part of the physician, far more
confidence and nerve, in fact, than if |
the patient is under the influence Of |
some anesthetic.
Mrs, Lyons was suffering from senile
cataract, that is, the crystalline lens of
the eye Was dead-had become Opaque,
and if it could be successfully removed
she would regain her sight, Assisted
by DR.. Prentice, Mrs. Lyons took a
half reclining position, and turned her
sightless eye-balls and patient, hope
full face, framed with its bands of sill
Vered hair, up to the searching sun
light,
In exactly forty-seyen seconds by
The watch DR.. Prentice turned away
and remarked at is done, and she
will see," and held up to view that
diseased portion of the eye which bad
been so swiftly and SO marvelously cut
away. During the operation seven
Instruments were used the eyelids
we're held propPed open by means Of
! small, fine speculum, and then with
pair of almost thread like forceps
he sure hand of the physician grasped
he eyeball and held it firmly in place.
BY means of a neede-like knife tiny
tut was made, portion Of the iris re-
moved, and then it but remained to
10 the final work of all-remove the
crystalline lens, done by the use of a
lit of steel, a cross between a crochet
IeedIe and microscopic sugar scoop.
The eye was then carefully bandaged,
nd Mrs. Lyons was ordered to com
,lete rest and quiet. At the end of
i've days the bandages were removed,
nd the happy and triumphant old
ady joyfuIly announced that she could
ee quite we'll enough to read the ac-
onnt of the wonderful transformation
Rhich the reporter informed her he
Intended to publish in the Picayuns.
irs. Lyons refused to admit that the {
of the operation had Civ {
n her pain, protesting that it was over !
efore she realized the dread Of it, !
nd declaring that the eye has not &C
asioned her even moment of dis q
omfort since. .
Tuesday morning Mrs. Lyons-shc s
ho had been led with the timorous
of the blind to the doctor 6
gain walked into his Office at No, IS =
Dryades street; but this time with no
ncertain carriage and entirely un- Q
dcd, and, after expressing her de- \
ght and Joy, the contented lady s
arted down TO Canal street to see the o
ghts of New Orleans. :