Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-02-23
THE USE AND
VALUE OF GLASSES
PrejudiCes of Old Giving
Way to Reason.

Every one knows in a general way that
SpectaceS are worn 10 assist the sight, ana
there is large number that know nothing
more than that they help the aged to see to
read and the near-sighted TO see at n distance
The prejudice against glasses has, on the one
hand, acted to deter persons from wearing
glasses who really need them, and. on the
other hand, has acted to influence employers
to decline to engage applicants for work who
are wearing spectacles.
IL is hardly possible i'm these few lines to at
tempt to combat these prejudices or To present
arguments sufficient to prove their falacy.
The first one is so unreasonable that no
sensible person in this enlightened day would
be rash enough to advise people who have de
fective sight not to wear glasses nor would
these people be foolish enough to listen TO
such adj vice. While in regard To the second
prejudice mentioned employers are soon nd
easily convinced that the man who notices his
sight is falling and promptly uses the means
at his command to restore ii is the more wide
awake and capable workman and does better
service than the careless person who fails to
notice his impaired sight, or IL he does, takes
no interest or makes no effort TO restore it.
The truth of the matter is that in the hands of
a skillful oculist there is no means at the
present time which will correct so many eye
troubles, such as nervous headache, squirting
cross-eyes and restore good sight as suitable
lenses in all their various combinations: and
people have not been slow to find this out and
act in accordance.
this matter (of the importance of proper
glasses but there are still many persons who
would decidedly object To ill-fltting, ready
made clothing who do not hesitate in the
infinitely more important and delicate mat
ter of sight, who will still follow up the adver-
tisements of spectacle dealers and go into n
store TO have pair of glasses fitted without
thinking of the danger ofthus treating organs
whose mechanism is of the most delicate ma
ture and whose use is almost as valuable as
life itself. You would not think of going 10 "A
prescription clerk and asking him to prescribe
for you in case of sickness. How much less,
then. should you think of trusting your eyes
to "A mechanic ora salesman who may know
absolutely nothing of the anatomy, physl-
ologyor pathology of the eye or the detri.
mental effects of glasses fitted TO the tenn
porary conditions of sight which are found
by the simple means OF trying different lenses
until the customer has found what they think
will do. People who wearg glasses should have
their eyes examined by an oculist who under
stands their anatomy and condition from
medical standpoint. These examinations can
only be made I'm properly appointed rooms,
and with lights arranged for this purpose.
We have many new and scientne instru-
ments for this work recently imported from
Europe. and can successfully treat or tit with
glasses many who have given up hope. Those
who are interested i'm these articles are invited
To call on ms as we do not charge for consulta.
ton.