The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-16
Weak Eyes.

Many girls, those kept too much in
the house, and fed improperly, have weak
eyes, especially when they read hashy
literature late at night, or at the twilight
hour. An important principle is to see
with the least effort, never to strain or
overtax them, but simply to open them
and let them see. All efforts, in this
matter, using them under unfavorablc
circumstances, by artificial light, If weak,
or when painful, in obscure light, at the
twilight hour or in dark rooms, must be
injurious. Pain is intended as a warn
ing-one to be needed. An hours labor,
as sewing on dark cloth, when pain is
constant, is worse than a days work at
other times, when the same effort i'll the
evening or at twilight, may injulc the
sight more than that Of the day.
Still another principle OF the utmost
Importance Il speak from an experience
of thirty years with weak cyes-inhcr-
ited-bdt now gaining steadily, though
used ten times as much as in the past. l
refer to the influence Of sunlight. 10
occupy dark rooms, either from the alb
sence OF windows or from the use OF
stained glass ("bluc' OF notl, dark
curtains. ETC., is Ito have weak
eyes. This light is the stimulus, the
food Of the eyes, as bread is Of
the stomach. My experience is ia favor
of more than usual light lit now shines
on my page as much as can be had
without producing unpleasant sensations,
after the first. A gradual use of it, as
much as convenient, is safe and ludic-
ious. l believe the darkening OF the
sick room, save in exceptional cases, as
in the measles, when decided pain re-
suits, is but less than cruelty. since this
same light is one of the best h~ealers,
purifiers and cleansers known! If at
first painful, a wet cloth may be worn
over the eyes, modifying the light,
which will do more good than harm in
any sick room. The girl with weak
eyes should be much in the air and light,
and not with cylinders" using as much
of both as may Dc made agreeable. Ab
solute restis not necessary, since we gain
strength by exercise, using our powers
judicially. 1t is safe 70 use weak eyes,
under favorable circumstances, until a
little pain, or u sensation Of discomfort
appears.
Frequent winking, as a means of dis
tributing the tears, is of great advantage
as q curative measure. When tears are
diminished in quantity, artificial ones
are supplied by making a mucilage Of
rose water and the bark Of the root Of the
sassafras tree, found at druggists, just
thin enough to run freely, putting it in
the outer angle Of the eyes at least three
times each day. A wet cloth, three or
four thickncsses. worn at night over
them, will keep them cool, reducing the
Inflammation. Let them be comfortable.
I will add that sight is much impaired
by using glasses when not needed, dark
ones, or those the use Of which renders
sight difficult. The important object of
them is 70 correct the distance or near
sight, not to improve personal appear
ance. Since the air is transparent, it is
reasonable to infer Ihat our glasses, ordi-
narily, should be so, that seeing may
not be laborious. 1t is j.d:cioHs to use
glasses when necessary to change ''fne
print to COARSE" and to protect The eye
temporarily from the glare Of the light.
If the young wear ma9nifying giasses too
soon, the lenses of the eye will SO change
as to soon render them necessary.
Looking through wells and the like, Or
through the hair resulting from an alb
surd style Of wearing it, coverings beau
tiful forehead, must impair the sight
City and Country.