New-York tribune., 1897-08-16
THE BICYCLE EYE A REALITY.
AN ERECT POSTURE WHILE RIDING. A
CARELESS GLANCE AT THE LANDSCAPE
AND PROTECTION AGAINST GLARE
TILE REMEDY In PART.

CARELESS GLANCE AT THE LANDSCAPE
AND PROTECTION AGAINST GLARE
THE REMEDY. IN PART.
Dr. John Howard Payne, OF Boston. well-known
specialist I'm the care Of the eye, was asked by
representative OF The Tribune. at the Oriental Ho-
tel Manhattan Beach. II he considered bicycling in
furious to the eyesight as some ASSERT that 1t is
DR. Payne cheerfuy gave The Tribunes bicycle
readers his idea on that point.
"Yes" said Dr. Payne bicycling has tendency
to induce fatigue of the optic nerve and the retina
and chronic oversenstiveness to light, termed
'photophoba.' 1t promotes congestion not only Of
the lining coatings of the eyebal, but of the ex-
ternai surface of the eyebal and the lids of the
and there Is also a fatigue Of the muscles Of the
eyeba which control the focusing Of the vision
for objects at varying ranges; and all this is pro-
ductve of reflex headaches
"Do you recommend that blcyclers shall give up
their favorite sport for the sake of their eyes?"
asked the reporter.
"Oh. no. replied DR.. Payne. But let ex-
plain more fully. You must remember that the
trend of modern civilization IS toward the forma-
tion OF imperfect eyes. which may be transmitted
In Of time. an inheritance In the per-
fecty healthy eye, even. many OF the effects have
mentioned may be developed; but it is in those
cases Of previously unsuspected malformation OF
the eyoball and consequent tendency to eye strain
that physicians notice the most baneful effects 1t
has TO be Il stock question with ocLlists. when
patient presents himself FOR relief from confusion
OF the head. vertigo and headache DO you ride a
bicycle? II so, what IS your posture? Are you
scorcher, or a moderate and erect rider; and have
you mastered the ar; of looking ahead and of OBJ
serving surrounding objects with careless re-
taxation of your eyeslght? These questions will
give you the keynote Of the whole situation. If
The answer Is, I ride merely for pleasure and in
moderation. and sit erect the oculst under
stands that. while he must look for errors Of re-
fraction in his patients eye and correct them. get
he can give positive assurance of relief. II the
glasses which he prescribes faithfully worn.
'If on the other hand continued Dr. Payne,
the patients answer Is 1 am an enthusiast and
go into wheeling with energy and bend away for
ward upon my machine the ocuIist must insist
upon correction of his eye defect by glasses, and
he must also warn the patient that he expect
only parta, rele as long as he persists in riding in
& Why, asked The Tribgne's representative, is
bent posture unfavorabe?'
ward demands turning upward Of the eyeballs and
traction % the upper muscles OF the eye. which are
the ones least capable of endurance. This effect s
ery and ookng at objects above the line OF vision
Any one viii realize the fatigue 10 the brain and
eye il he viii recall the fact ;hat the hypnotic
Is induced by the mere act of compelling the subject
fifteen inches from the eye and above the line Of
vision. where the eyeba.ls no, only overcon-
yerged. but turned upward as well. The same OBJ
ject placed at fifteen inches and on level with
the eyes produces such results. In the former
case the effect is so great as TO induce complete
abeyance Of the will power and fatigue of the
brain centres. amounting absolute loss of
sclousness. Then again. the unnatural posture de-
mands a keyed-up tension of al, OF the body mus
cles ana an alertness OF ne visual act which will
certainly end IN an overfatigue OF the eye well
- OF the body in the most healthy individual. Even
IN the case Of those who sit erect unfavorable
symptoms may be induced. not only by any NAL
formation of the eyeballs and necessity for glasses
but by the g!aring lights reflected from bright and
dusty roads. the rapid rush Of air and the involun
tary en0rt OF the vision catch and fix surrounding
objects which are constantly eluding them by their
rapid change of position"
What do you advise them" asked.
In the cases last named" said Dr.. Payne.
glasses should be worn which have a medium tint
or blue or smoke sometimes called London smoke)
and which are either plane ground TO correct any
refactve error that may exist II is hardly neces-
sary for me to de1uce the moral concerning the
strained posture. That IL obvious. As for the rest.
advise moderation In the exercise Of bicycling a
careful correction OF refractve errors by glasses.
and protection Of the eyes from overglaring lights
This should result in an invigOraton of the whole
system and in placing the OF bicycling
plane with the most heathful exercises known 10
mankind"