The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-31
WEARERS OF GLASS EYES.
How Artificial Eyes Arc Made and WIZ
Uses Them-Facts Of Interest.

tractiye. Artificial eyes may be CLASH
fed iu.o two distinct kinds. viz. glass
and composition. Until recently those
who had the misfortune to lose IN eye
have provided themselves with artificial
ones OF glass to hide the deformlty. Eyes
are 10 q uan what the vestiDuic door Is
10 the hoase-an indication OF what is
inside. The idealistic part of the glass
eve contains without doubt more fact
than fiction.
Oculisss and opticians say that thou
sands who make use # this valuable and
important article show no .cvi.eICe OK
cept to IN expert Of any impaired sight.
The glass eyes which are manufactured
in this country are really made Of glass.
They have many defects, among which
may be mentioned their liability to le
broken. and the lard pressure Of their
edges upon the heshy parts. a fall or
blow will often break them, or they viii
sometimes crack spontaneously. and il
addition to the loss of the artificial eye,
the patients eyelids are frequently
wounded. This accounts for the fact 81
children being rarely provided with glass
eyes on account Of them not being able
TO handle them without danger.
The composition eye, which is made Ct
a substance resembling celluloid. is now
in universal demand. 1t is much worn
by ladies and children, as it prevents 4
distortion Of the face. After the human
eye is once impaired and total blindness
sets in, the face will be distorted If no
artificial eye is worn, by the falling cf
the eyelids. The composition eyes are
imported from Germany, and have de-
s;royed the market of the glass specimens
which are exclusively manufactured in
this country. Some Of these are remark.
able for close imitation, while others arc
beautiful specimens Of art. They are
generally worn by those who have an in
jurcd eye extracted, but the majority cf
artificial eye wearers are recruited from
the ranks Of the fair sex, who perchance
are s4uintcd or possessed Of some other
tiiiling ocular deformity.
Ii certain diseases Of the eye it be-
comes necessary TO extract the orb 50 af-
fected. as the eyes are so intimately con-
necte1 through their nervous structures
that one diseased eve will ultimately rum
the other By sympathetic ophthalmia.
The operation of removal Is known as
"enuciea,ion," By which the muscles are
LEFT behind 70 assist IA moving the art.-
fetal eyes.
These are not round, rs is popularity
supposed but shaped Ike o slcll, and
cause little or no trouble in being intro.
duced. They are generally removed at
night and the parts washed with water
or lotion. They generally last three
years, aster which they losc their polish
and become unfit for wear New ones
are then introduced after the same fash
len. and when once accustomed 20 this
routine the wca-e- experiences very little
Inconvenience in tLoir adjustment. The
composition eyes possess the advantage
Of lighncss, and the composition may
BE- trimmed with a penknile o. file 70
adjust 1t accurately ar,l comfortably TO
the parts. No artificial eye is Of pcrpet-
ual duration, because by its incessant
Increment it loses its smooth surface.
One Of the largest manufacturers Of
glass eyes in this country said to the
writer q few days ago: 1T is surprising
TO thinl, Of the vast Number Of persons
who wear glass eyes. The largest per-
centage. Of course, are ladies, who an
nually expend large sums in the pur-
chase Of those translucent optics and TN
less person thoroughly experienced in
handling those eyes no other could dis
cover that they are limitations. Glass
eyes cost all the way from IS to $50
each, but composition eyesw which are I'M
ported cost extravagant Sums, though
some may be purchased at comparatively
low prices. depending, of course, on tie
quality Of the material. You know
cattle also wear glass eyes, and thou
sands Of men find themselves the posses
scrs Ct horses and tler animals orna-
mented with those Co which they Fur-
chased on the supposition that they were
free from defects"
Tie insertion Of artificial eyes requires
great skill on the part Of the operator,
as the comfort and stability Of the artiii-
cal orb to tie patient are dependent on
tie process Of transformation. The eye
is taken between the foreiinger and
thumb Of the right hand, while the other
hand is placed on the forehead and Its
extremities used 70 raise the upper eye
lid. 1t il then introduced under the up
per eyelil, the lower one is drawn down
by the disengaSed fingers, and behind
tbs the piece at once places Itself.
In extracting & l@ss CT composition
eye the easiest way Is t. catch holI Of II
between the fingers and draw it outward.
Should cny difficulty be experienced the
head of a pin or some blunt instrument
inserted under the head at once removes
the obstacle. This is where the folly Of
using glass eyes becomes apparent, fer Il
not allowed 70 rest or fail on handler
chief or some soft material they break,
and their replacement at frequent inter
walls costs q considerable amount.
Glass eye making requires judgment
in the selection Of proper glass. This i
composed Of sand, soda. saltpeter, pei
ash, lime and chloride Of lead. AL these
ingredients are put into melting pct
for a period Of twenty hours and sub.
jected 10 heat Of 1900 degs. The sand
and other chemicals then unite IL fo-n'
-