The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-09
CHILDREN'S EYES.

BILE of the Eyesight-Benefts of Using
Properly Adjusted Glasses : valuable
Advice t> Parents.
About two years ago lady brought
two of her sons, aged respectively 9 and
II, to me to have their eyes examined to
see if glasses were needed. She had tax
en- this step partially Oh my invitation
and as a matter Of precaution, as she
was we'll aware that both herself and
her husband had defective eyes, and some
Of her children were already wearing
glasses for troubles which were without
doubt hereditary. In answer to ques-
tions about the general health, of the
children, their disposition, complaints
they made regarding headache, etc., she
made the following statement:
81 really am puzzled to know What
to do with the older boy. He seems 50
irritable and cross after few days at
school, and he always seems to be spoil
ing for a fight. His health seems very
good, with the exception of headache
xster study, but he is not nearly as far
advanced in school for his age as is his
younger brother. !"
after making careful examination /
prescribed glasses for the older one, but
told the mother that the younger one
did not need them at the present time.
Ibid not see anything of the children or
the mother for six months, at which
time, when meeting the mother, she
told me the glasses had worked mar
velons change in her son, and he wore
then constantly and could not bear to
be without them. He was now picking
up in his school work and was better
natured than she had ever known him
before
This child is only one Of many thou
sands in CUR schools today who are hav
ing their dispositions ruined and are
called dull and stupid by their parents
and teachers through no fault of their
own. Being perhaps born with de-
feet in sight, they do not know Of any
different world from that which they see
through defective eyes, consequently
cannot relate their troubles to their par
ents, as they are entirely unconscious
of their defect. Therefore I wish to en-
phasize most emphatically that it is the
duty of all parents and teachers to mark
very closely any peculiarly that chill
dren may have in looking at objects at
a long distance or close at hand, such as
squirting their eyes, frowning, looking
sidewise from partially closed eyes and
particularly regarding the distance at
which they hold their reading matter
from their eyes, for it is natural for
child, or for a grown person, for that
matter. who has normal sight to hold
clearly printed reading matter about Is
inches from his eyes. Should this be
varied to any extent, such as drawing
the reading quite close to the eyes or
holding it at arms length, it is almost
a sure sign that there is something
wrong.
People who have strong eyes usually
have but little sympathy for those who
are less fortunate in this respect.
The necessity of glasses to assist
child in school work, which will put
it on "a more even footing with the
other students, is not appreciated by
many parents who are otherwise
thoughtful and considerate Of the well
fare of their children, and who are in
many cases undergoing privations that
their children may secure an education.
Do not be too ready to judge these chill
dren as having a fad for glasses or wish
ing to wear them because some of their
playmates do. Better be a little over
cautious in having the child's eyes ex-
amined than to take too much response
bility in this matter in your own hands,
for no honest optician will advise you
to put glasses on child unless they are
sure to prove AN advantage.
Another point which I think should
be proclaimed loudsand long to the diff.
ferent parents is the fact that nine of
every ten cases Of strabismus (cross eyes)
existing among children under the age
of IL can be wholly cured by the very
simple and painless method Of wearing
glasses, whereas if this matter is left
until the child has reached maturity it
requires painful operation, which in
the majority CT cases is not altogether
successful then, for it is not alone the
matter Of appearance that the parents
are responsible for. But children who
are cross eyed and allowed to remain in
this condition any length Of time are al
mcst certain to lose the use of one eye
wholly or in part, owing to the length
Of tine they are allowed to go in this
way Very few children are born cross
eyed, and almost every mother will tell
you that this misfortune was due to
some sickness, a fall or something of
the kind which happened when they
were beginning to walk, when in reality
the accident or sickness only marked the
time that the child first began to use its
eyes to discriminate small objects, and
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