Milford chronicle., 1888-06-01
TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES
GOOD ADVICE GIVEN BY A NEW
YORK ocULlsT.


Perfect Eye-How the Eyes should BE
Looked After-Bathing the Eyes-COn-
tagious Diseases
It seldom happens that a New York
street car makes a trip from its stable to
the terminus of its route without carry
ing at least one person under 40 years OF
age who wears glasses at least when he
reads. This will give the uninitiated
some idea Of the prevalence Of impaired
eyesight. In a cafe near Madison square
the other evening a reporter counted eight
spectacled young men out Of twelve sit
ting at five tables IN one end Of the room
With view of learning the cause of this
widespread weakness in the visual organs
of the young men of this generation. the
reporter sought DR.. George S. Norton, Of
the New York Ophthalmic college, well
known authority upon that subject of
medical practice.
1t is rare that specialist finds per
feet eye" he said. I'm nearly every in
stance some defect is found. The most
common complaints are myopia and hyper
mytropia. or near and far sightedness. as
they are commonly called. The former is
increasing. but the latter is not, although
the latter is far more prevalent just at
present. The care of the eyes is far more
important than most men realize The
improper use of eyes which are weak re-
suits in variety of complaints. II often
causes headaches, depression and some
times nervous prostration These can
generally be remedied if not cured by the
use of glasses. In the purchase of glasses
the sufferer cannot be too careful. The
use of glasses that are improperly ad
justed to the eye is oftentimes more in
jurious than helpful Another common
complaint is called astigsnatism. which
consists of the irregular curvature of the
cornea. In such cases oneApart of the eye
may be myopic while the other is hyper
mytropic. To avoid this. glasses must be
used with lenses specially ground for the
purpose"
BITS OF GOOD ADVICE
How should the eyes be taken care of"
THAT depends entirely upon circum-
stances Each mans eyes differ from
those of his fellow No two pairs are
alike Here are few simple directions
in cases of accident which would be well
follow When a cinder or any foreign
substance gets into the eye, never rub the
eye Wait a moment. then gently open
and close the lid; the tears which follow
this operation will usually wash out the in
truding substance. However, should it
refuse to go. turn up the lid under which
the substance is and remove it with a soft
handkerchief If the substance becomes
imbedded in the corner. or eyebal. go to
a physician Immediately In bathing the
eyes it makes no material difference. as
has been alleged. whether they are rubbed
toward the nose or from it. 1t is inju-
dicious, however, to allow water to enter
the eye. as this act may engender disease
1t should never be allowed except under
skilled advice Do not use the eyes after
they are tired They should be rested. if
only for a moment Avoid the use of the
eyes while travelling in railway carriage
or in poor light. Do not work with the
head bent low. Use a sloping desk when
writing Never allow the light to shine
in your eyes while working; let it come
over the left shoulder, if possible. If this
cannot be accomplished wear shade
Avoid the use of colorSd glasses unless
under competent advice. except when ex
posed to bright light, such as the glare Of
the sun upon snow or water. Then they
may be used with great benefit. London
smoked glasses. or blue, are the only
colors that should be worn under these
circumstances. Avoid holding a book.
when reading, too near the eye. as the
nearer it is held the greater the strain
On the other hand. do not hold it far
away. as then the strain is even greater
C0ntagion is the most fertile cause of the
spread of external diseases, especially
granular lids This is most generally the
case in public institutions, where children
live and sleep together. and often wash
themselves in the same water. Isolation
is the only known method for preventing
the spread of this disease. A normal eye
should be perfectly strong and not become
easily tired 1t should not require the
use of glasses until the age of 40 or 45 has
been reached By the use Of proper glasses
they should remain strong indefinitely
A far sighted man requires glasses for
reading much earlier than a man who Is
near sighted When person does not
need glasses for reading at so years of
age it proves conclusively that he must
have been near sighted in his youth
New York Mail and Express.
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