Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-27
WHO SHOULD WEAR CLASSES
Interesting Article on a Matter Often
Hard to Decide.

Hard to Decide.
Whether one should wear glasses or not
is often a very important matter to decide,
because of the less of comfort and ability
which naturally follows if mistake is
once made, writes Smith Baker, NJ. D., in
the Christina Union. This is a matter
widely different, however, from that which
involves the decision as to the kind of
glasses one may perhaps need. This is for
the oculist, and usually for him alone, to
determine. Trusting to the efforts of IN
competent hands is at once illusory and
dangerous Trusting to ones own ability
to select from the opticians case is not
much more satisfactory. In one hundred
recent cases, taken in order as they have
come, / do not find more than half-dozen
who could have wisely attempted their
ewu fitting, and even these might have
Judged inaccurately, and so have done
themselves more or less harm. Within
easy reach of nearly every community
there is now to be found some one who,
by study, apprenticeship, and constant
practice, has made himself known as wor-
thy of being trusted. That such an one,
rather than the self-vaunted street vender
or spectacle salesman, should always be
trusted, everyday observation and expert
enee amply attest. Every oculist meets
numbers of people who are the unhappy
owners of the poorest kind of trashy, mis-
fit glasses, palmed off on them by incom-
petent or unprincipled tradesmen, at prices
that would cover the cost of trustworthy
services and lenses.
But the question, Does one need to wear
glasses or not? is one that people must
often decide, in fact, for themselves, and
one which it is perfectly proper for them
to wisely consider at all times. Not that
they can always rightly tell, by any means,
but that in practical life it remains
with them always to say whether they
shall undertake to find out the probable
necessity or not. Many suffer so much
before their attention is directed to the
eyes as a possible source of trouble that
suggestions and rules which may help
them to quicker discovery seem proper
and desirable. OF course nothing of the
kind can be considered as entirely conclu-
sive, and should not be accepted as such.
Once the suggestion comes, let the oculist
decide what should be actually done.
/. Then, surprising one has always had
good eyesight, but has now arrived at 40
or more years of age, and has found that
it has become difficult to read in the even
ing or dull light, and that he has had to
gradually remove the page farther and
farther away in order to read comfortably
at all. This is evidence of the natural
change which comes to most people, and
should not be unnoticed and uncorrected
too long, for the consequent strain may be
harmful, and the eye may thus become
more or less injured.
2. Surprising that one has been able to
see clearly and without much effort up to
any time under 40 years, but that, during
or after some unusual labor or severe i'll
ness or continued exhaustion, the eyes
have become easily, more or less, tired or
distressed, and otherwise unclear. The
eyeball is probably irregular (astigmatic);
or perhaps the delicate eye structures
themselves are diseased. In either case
attempts 20 cure by waiting, or to relieve
by persistent straining, are very liable to
increase the discomfort and danger.
8. Many people can see unusually we'll
in the distance, and are apt to pride them
selves on their 'good sight," but whenever
they attempt close work for any time they
experience more or less itching of the lids,
increased flow of tears, blurring or swim
ming of the object looked at, etc. These
people are "far-sighted" and have to ex-
ert the focusing muscle" so much that in
time the eyes become very weak and dis
tressed. In children, if the degree of this
trouble be very high the muscle becomes
so contracted and rigid that they have to
hold the object very close to the eyes, and,
in consequence, are usually thought to be
''near-sighted" But "near-sighted" chill
dren, as a rule, can read and study while
holding their books at the ordinary dis
lance. 1t is only for greater distances that
they are incapable of seeing distinctly.
The proper treatment for "far-sighted-
ness" is complicated often, and should al
ways be left to the judgment of competent
minds. The sooner it is commenced the
easier relief is effected.
4. Persons who are truly "near-sighted"
so frequently have other associated weak
nesses and diseases about the eyes that the
| only safe rule has been found to be that
| each case should be placed under qualified
| oversight and direction. Changes go on
from month to month which, if improperly
cared for, result quite frequently in ire
ueuldoIe ConuAIlolls, anu ulSdStIous IOsS Vi
vision.
| 5. The general rule may well be remem-
bered by all: whenever the lids become re-
peatedly irritated, or there is permanently
increased flow of tears, or there is blurring
or swimming of the book or work, or the
eyes are, as rule, rapidly exhausted or
are subject to repeated distress of any kind,
or there are experienced headaches, dizzi-
ness, neuralgia, nervousness and the like
whenever the eyes are much used-in fact,
whenever the eyes refuse to do their work
distinctly, easily, and for an ordinary
length of time-then, and at once, let
them be attended to by some one who
knows how; for usually there is risk of
probable harm if one is led to inaction or
wrong action, or to delay proper action for
too long time. Better repeated expenses
for timely examinations than single mis-
take in not seeking one soon enough.