The record-union., 1892-01-19
WEAKNESS OF THE EYES.
The Cause and Prevention of Defectiy
Vision Among Children.

lie NallS0 ana IfeNeDUlOn OF OcIecU1V6
Vision Among Children.
The rapid increase in the number of
those who are Obliged to wear glasses
nowadays Especially children is SO
alarming that we are at once driven to
the conclusion that the human vision is
now more defective than ever before.
But such is not the case. Formerly spec
tacles were thought to be necessary only
for the old, and the idea OF children wear
ing glasses was considered the greatest
absurdity.
Fortunately this erroneous idea is fast
dying out. With the advancement of
science and the discovery of certain de-
fects of vision hitherto unknown, the
public are becoming better educated and
are not slow TO apply the remedy when
any defect Of vision is found to exist.
But much still remains to be done in this
direction.
DR.. Brudenell Carter, one of London's
most eminent eye specialists, has of late
endeavored to open peoples eyes to their
own shortsightedness. He is amazed at
the ignorance of parents and teachers
with regard to the very existence of
visual defects in their children and gives
them excellent advice. Unfortunately,
nearsighted children are often ignorant
OF their own calamity. They are thought
| stupid because they cannot read the
clock or the blackboard the same, or
rather at the same distance, as other chill
dren. They lose legacies because they
are a few seconds behind in recognizing
some relative from whom they have ex-
pectations. They are supposed to be
wanting in dutiful interest, whereas, I'M
til the visitor comes quite close, they
don't know whether it is their uncle,
their aunt or the letter-carrier. 1t is not
until some serious consequence follows
from the want of observation that the
Il
ance is no less about matter one would
think equally patent. The popular no.
ton that shortsighted eyes are strong
eyes, and that they improve with age"
says DR.. Carter, lis erroneous"
| That they do not so improve is a fact one
would think obvious to at least all near
sighted persons unless of very sanguine
disposition.
Parents and teachers are, to great ex-
tent, responsible for the increase Of de-
fective vision in children. Much can be
done to prevent it.
When quite young, children often show
disposition to hold objects very close to
their eyes, others have a slight tendency
10 Squlnt, thus showing that there is an
inequality in the eyes. II attended to in
time this can be remedied by wearing
specially prepared SpectacleS for a given
time; but, if neglected, spectacles will be
of no avail and nothing remains but a
surgical operation. Parents can not be
too careful about this matter. as MANY a
child has lost the sight of one eye on ac-
count of the ignorance and negligence of
the parents.
When a child first enters school its eyes
! should be thoroughly tested by means of
certain simple tests in the hands of the
teacher. SO that it can be ascertained be-
! You'd the possibility of doubt whether
! the sight is defective or not, and able to
| hear the necessary strain arising from
| close application to study. Nothing is of
SO much importance to child as its eye
sight. Little or no progress can be made
at school unless the eyes are in a normal
condition.
Five o'clock in the afternoon. "Too
soon to light the lamp" The good boy
will not waste his time; he learns his les
! sons by freight. Perhaps, however, it
| is not lesson book which he is reading,
! but Robinson Crusoe," or the "Boy's
| Own Book" If so, it is all the worse, for
! he is less likely to put it down.
! A bad light; small Print; a difficult
| lesson.
The boy hopes to get the Latin gram
mar into his head by putting his head
into the Latin grammar. He is doing his
! best, without knowing it, to make him
self shortsighted for life, and is very
! likely to succeed.
Another matter of equal importance is
! the construction of the desks, the admis-
sion of the light and the position of the
body. Teachers should see that the desks
are constructed properly, as the faulty
arrangement Of school desks has much to
! do with the prevailing short sight of the
present day. The light should be ad-
mtted so as to fall over the left shoulder
| if possible. The body should be kept
| upright, and no l6unging or stopping
ermitted.-Philadelph Star.