The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
DEMAND FOR EYEGLASSES
Defective Sight a Common Complaint
Among the Young People of the Cities.
1t Is Partly Attributable to Misuse of Eyes
by Their Parents and Grandparents
Natural-Gas Fires Are Harmful.

The rapid increase in the number of per-
sons who wear glasses is attracting con-
siderable attention from scientists. and
there have been some interesting theories
advanced within the past few years to ac-
count for it. Comparisons made between
country and city or town districts. accord
ing to population, show conclusively that
residents of the latter suffer more from
weak eyes than those Of the former. and the
conclusion has been reached that the differ
ence in the habits Of the two account for
the difference in the strength of the eye
sight. 1t is reckoned that one in every
twenty-five of the inhabitants of large
cities wear glasses either q part or all the
time. and those that put them on for
assistance in reading or in doing fine
needle work are supposed to be large
ly in the majority. A representative of the
Journal making some inquiries regarding
the prevalence of wearing glasses in this
city, entered the Office of well-known oc-
ulist There were seven people in the
room, ranging in age from SIX to forty
years, and all had come to consult the ply
stefan regarding their eyes. The youngest
was little girl who wore pair of sun
glasses, and who, her mother said, had been
troubled with weak eyes from her infancy.
Within the past year the trouble had in
creased SO rapidly that her parents had be-
come alarmed about her, and for some
weeks past she had been kept in a dark
room during most of the day. Another pa
tient was a young man who had been at
tending college from home, and who was
compelled to return before the close of the
session owing to constant PAIN in his eyes;
with all of his patients the reporter spoke
of the object of his visit. and asked regard
ing the prevalence of disease of the eyes
and the manner in which the increase is
in near sightedness," remarked the physi-
clan, land this now appears to be the only.
or about the only, disease which affects the
eyes to any great extent. should say that
90 per cent. of the eyes treated during the
affection. The fact is. that the children of
to-day are reaping the whirlwind that their
parents sOwed to in their youth, and the
trouble with their eyes is almost entirely
due to hereedity. This, accounts. for the
persons who live in cities and those
who live in the country and fol-
low manual labor. The latter work hard
during the day and retire early IN order to
get sufficient sleep. Their eyes get the full
amount of rest that nature requires,
and their sight is better and lasts longer
than persons who reside in cities. Here
the young man and young woman sit up
till late at night, as q rule, and while they
get as much sleep as the farmer, sometimes
the glare of gas light, and the eyes suffer
as a result. Go back three generations
and you will find the beginning of the
weak eyes that are so numerous to-day.
II lG~xl - L. Il IL
night and weakened his eyes in the glare
of gas or oil light. His child followed
his example, spending half the night
in reading or in entertaining COM
pany, and took his rest when the air
ing. His child followed in the parents
footsteps, and before he had reached twen-
uy found that he must have glasses. His
child, in turn, was compelled to put on
glasses at five or six years of age. The
but he was a very old man before he put
on glasses. His child put them on earlier.
the next generation earlier still and the
last finds glasses necessity while mere
infants. Though the trouble thus dates
tirely due to the habits of the forefathers.
Each generation runs further in the wrong
direction, takes less and less care of the eyes,
and the result is what we see every day upon
the street and in the hOusehold-mere in
sight. But there is another element which
has lately been introduced and
which will materially injure the
eyes if care is not taken to prevent
it. The introduction of natural gas has
made the use of CRATES more common and
has intensified the light and heat II which
the eyes are exposed while sitting In front
of the fire. Such reflection will destroy
the best pair of eyes in ChristendOm if the
fire is not screened; When the glare of a
fetal gas as an illuminatOr, the eyes get no
rest and nearsightedness will necessarily
be greatly increased. Here, for example, is
ayOung lady or young man who is close
student or goes much into society: The
night is spent in the combined glare of
natural and artificial gas, and the day is
passed before an open CRATE in which nat
ural gas is burning. Every time the eyes
fall upon the fire they are met by the refiec-
ton of an intense heat. and there is prac-
tically no rest except when taking repOse.
With such persons there is rarely enough of
good refreshing sleep, unless taken IN the
morning, when the eyes would DE benefited
by the mellow light, and the eyesight
grows worse and worse till glasses become
necessity. Fifty years ago 1T was the ex.
ceptiOn to see person wearing glasses, and
when seen 1t was an indisputable evidence
of old age. Fifty years hence 1t Will be an
exception to find persons who live In cities
without them, and already 1t is no sign of
mature age"
The same gentleman remarked that it
was an erroneous idea to suppose that all
who wear glasses do so openly. Hundreds
of persons, young men and ladies, have
glasses for private use and even their most
intimate friends do not know that they are
a necessity in reading and writing. Many
young ladies get glasses fitted to their eyes
and charge the Occulist not to say anything
about it and some even GO so far as to con-
ceal the fact from their parents. Some
days ago, young lady, we'll known to an
oculist, entered his office to have her eyes
tested and was shown into the private
room. He made thorough test of her eyes
and recommended that she have
pair of glasses While en-
gagged in making out the prescrip-
ton, young man entered the front office.
Looking through the door, the physician
recognized his caller, and said: Your
glasses are not quite ready. Come back to-
morrow and you can get them" The
young man replied that he was going out of
the city, and his old glasses, panied his
eyes SO much that he did not think that he
could wear them. The lady in the chair
Immediately recognized the voice as that
of a gentleman with whom she was well
acquainted and to whom. rumor says, she
is engaged to be married. AS, the young
man spoke he advanced to the door of the