Daily camera., 1897-12-23
WEARING GLASS EYES.
Great Benefits Resulting from
Their Use.
Some Particulars of Their Csnstruc-
ton and Care Which Are Not
Commonly knOwn-CIcFer
COuntcrfcfts.

wears who carried glass eyes, and you
never suspected that they had any
visual trouble except slight optical
defect until they have voluntarily told
you the truth But nowadays this is
not considered strange. The duplica-
ton of the human eye in form, color,
motion, in everything except the sight
itself, is one of the great triumphs of
modern art. From all time men who
have lost one of their organs OF sight
seem to have made some attempt to
remedy the deformity- Efforts were
even made to improve the appearance
of the human corpse, as is shown by
some OF the Egyptian mummies. Among
various peoples use has been made
of gold, brass and porcelain in
the construction of artificial eyes, but
until the early portion of the eighteenth
century their wearers must have found
them very unsatisfactory. About that
period the French found that by a COM
bination of glass and enamel the requi-
site finish could be secured. From that
discovery the manufacturers progressed
gradually until it attained its present
state of perfection. To-day no one need
be seeneswith eyelids sunken in and
wearing that totally blank expression
of countenance which is the inevitable
accompaniment of an absenteye.
The popular idea is that the artificial
eye is in the form of a sphere and com
pletely fills a cavity after the removal
of the natural organ. In point Of fact.
the glass has about the same shape as
portion of an eggshell cut off very
close to the smaller end The sclerotic
part, or the white of the glass eye, is
one-fortieth of an inch thick, while the
cornea, or the colored portion, is one
twentieth of an inch thick. The use Of
the enamel gives a perfectly smooth
surface, under which are made, in ex-
act reproduction of the natural eye,
the minute veins seen covering the
white portion. The cornea has very
slight elevation, and in color can be
made to match any orb. The edge of
the glass is sometimes ground and used
without any further finish. Ground
The best glass eyes are those which
have delicately enameled edges, pre-
senting, even under the microscope. no
roughness Of surface inany part. The
most favorable condition for the use
of a glass eye is that in which the or
gan still remains in the socket, although
shruhken and destroyed tor all pur-
poses of sight. In the majority of cases
the oculist tries upon the patient first
an eye smaller than the size required
to mate with the sound eye. This is
especially necessary when the parts
are still tender. In short time this
may be removed and a larger substi-
tuted until the required size is arrived
at. If there be sufficient portion of
the natural organ remaining it is i'm
possible to distinguish the glass eye
from its mate.
The remedying of a deformity is
the slightest of the advantages
resulting from the use of the glass
eye. If the organ be lost before the
patient is fully grown an artificial one
will prevent contraction of the eyelids.
It obvietes th e discomfort and irritation
produced by the turning in. of the
lashes. 1t guards against the entrance
of foreign bodies and prevents the ac
emulation of tears in the orbit. Great
care is required by anyone wearing an
artificial eye. 1t must be removed frc
quently and thoroughly cleansed and
then dried with lint or soft cotton.
If it is placed in cold water the change
in temperature is very apt to crack and
the enamelcd surface. After
being worn some time, particularly if
it be subjected to anything which ap-
proaches careless handling, the fine
gloss will disappear. The eye is liable
to in lure the inner skin of the lids, and
either 4 new one must be procured, or.
when possible, the old one repolshed.
The latter may be often done at slight
expense and the eye put in as good con-
dition as when first purchased. The
cost of an artificial eye varies from ten
to fifteen dollars. This may seem a
by the varied and extensive stock the
oculist is obliged to keep on hand. The
of variations produced by color
formation and cause of destruction to
the eye is so great that, even with thou
sands of glass eyes in stock, it is often
necessary to manufacture one expressly
to suit patients needs.-Philadelphi
Times.
rur to E1any Uses.
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