Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-07
WEARERS OF GLASS EYES.
How Artificial Eyes Are Made and who
Uses Them--Facts of Interest.

artlllclal eyes, ana OF this goodly number
the majority are ladies, whose sole ambi-
ton to supersede the works of the Creator
is centered in the hope of becoming at
t~ractive. Artificial eyes may be CLASH
fed into two distinct kinds, viz, glass
and composition. Until recently those
who had the misfortune to lose an eve
have provided themselves with artificial
les of glass to hide the deformity. Eyes
are to a man what the vestibule door Is
to the house-an indication of what is
inside. The idealistic part of the glass
eye contains without doubt more fact
than fiction.
Oculists and opticians say that thou
sands who make use of this valuable and
important artifice show no evidence ex-
cept to an 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 be
broken, and the hard pressure of their
edges upon the deshy parts. A fall or
blow will often break them, or they will
sometimes crack spontaneously, and in
addition to the loss of the artificial eye,
the patients eyelids are frequently
wounded. This accounts for the fact of
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 of
a substance resembling celluloid, is now
in universal demand. 1t is much worn
by ladies and children, as 1t prevents a
distortion of the face. After the human
eye is once impaired and total blindness
cafo IN Tho f,aa x-,n h. J;c%0-el 80
artificial eye is worn, by the falling of
the eyelids. The composition eyes are
imported from Germany, and have de-
stroyed the market Of the glass specimens
which are exclusively manufactured in
this country. Some of these are remark
able for close imitation, while others are
beautiful specimens of art. They are
generally worn by those who have an in
jured eye extracted, but the majority of
artificial eye wearers are recruited from
the ranks of the fair sex, who perchance
are squinted or possessed of some other
trihing ocular deformity.
In certain diseases of the eye it be-
comes necessary to extract the orb so af-
fected. as he eyes are SO intimately con-
nected through their nervous structures
that n diseased eye will ultimately ruin
the other by sympathetic ophthalmia.
The operation of removal is known as
''enucleation," by which the muscles are
left behind to assist in moving the arti-
fetal eyes.
These are not round, as is popularity
supposed, but shaped like a shell, and
cause little or no trouble in being intro
duced. They are generally removed at
night n the parts washed with water
or lotion. They generally last three
years, aster which they lose their polish
and become unfit for wear. New ones
are then introduced after the same fash
ion, and when once accustomed to this
routine the wearer experiences very little
inconvenience in their adjustment. The
composition eyes possess the advantage
of lightness, and the composition may
be trimmed with a penknife or a file to
adjust it accurately and comfortably to
the parts. No artificial eye is of perpet-
ual duration, because by its incessant
movement it loses its smooth surface.
One of the largest manufacturers of
glass eyes in this country said to the
writer a few days ago: ut is surprising
to hin of the vast number of persons
who wear glass eyes,. The largest per-
centage, of course. are ladies, who an
nually expend large uIn in the pur-
chase of those translucent optics, and I'M
less q person thoroughly experienced in
handling those eyes no other could dis
cover that they are limitations. Glass
eyes cost all the way from So to $25
each, but composition eyes which are i'm
ported cost eXtravagant sums, though
some may be purchased at comparatively
low prices, depending, of course, ON the
quality of the material. You know
cattle also wear glass eyes, and thou
sands of men find themselves the posses
sors of horses and other animals orna-
mented with those eyes which they pur-
chased on the supposition that they were
free from defects"
The insertion of artificial eyes requires
great skill on the part of the operator,
as the comfort and stability of the artif-
cial orb to the patient are dependent on
the process of transformation. The eye
is taken between the forefinger and
thumb of the right hand, while the other
hand is placed or the forehead and its
extremities used to raise the upper eye
lid. 1t is then introduced under the up
per eyelid, the lower n is drawn down
by the ~disengaged fingers, and behind
this the piece at once places itself.
In extracting a glass or composition
eye the easiest way is to catch hold of it
between the fingers and draw it outward.
Should any 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, for if
not allowed to rest or fall on a handker-
chief or some soft material they break,
and their replacement at frequent inter
walls costs a considerable amount.
Glass eye making requires Judgment
in the selection Of proper glass. This is
composed of sand, soda, ~saltpeter, pot
ash, lime and chloride of lead. All these
ingredients are put into a melting pot
for a period Of twenty hours and sub
jected to a heat of 1900 dogs. The sand
and other chemicals then unite in form
ing a liquid. The glass blower then uses
an iron pipe heated enough to make the
glass stick to it. This is stirred in a cir
crlar diractiop until a boll iu forpoaJ