The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-03-24
WEARING GLASS EYES.
Great Benefits Resulting from
Their USE
Some Particulars of Their ConstSus-
ton and Care which Are Not
Commonly known-CleveP
Counterfeits.

Many OF you have known men for
years 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 dupiica-
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 mummes. 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 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 seen with eyelids sunken in and
wearing that totally blank expression
of countenance which is the inevitable
accompaniment Of an absent eve.
The popular idea IS that the artificial
eye is in the form of a sphere and com
pletcly fills a cavity after the removal
e ~ r..
the glass has about the same shape as
portion of an eggshcll cut eff very
close to the smaller end. The srlerotic
part or the white Of the glass eye. is
one-fortieth of an inch thick, while the
cornca, or the colcrcd 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
edges are liable to produce irritation.
The best glass eyes are those which
have deliCately enameled edges, pre-
senting, even under the microscope. no
roughress of surface in any part The
most favorable condition for the use
of glass eye is that in which the or
gan still remains in the socket, although
shrurken and destroyed for 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 SIN tender. In a short time this
may be removed and a larger substi-
tutcd until the required size is arrived
at. II there be a sufficient portion of
the natural organ remaining it is i'm
possible to distinguish the glass eve
from its mate
The remedying of a deformity is
among 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
II obviates the discomfort and irritation
produced by the turning in of the
laShes. II 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. It must be removed fire.
quently and thoroughly cleansed and
then dried with lint or soft cotton.
If il is placed in cold water the change
in temperature is very apt to crack and
roue.len the eramcled surface. After I.
being worn some time. particularly IL
il be subjected TO anything which APP
proaches careless handling, the fine
gloss will disappear. The eve is liable
to injure the inner skin of the lids. and
elth a new one must be procured, or. |
when possible, the old one repo' shed. /
The latter may be often done nj slight |
eXpouse and the eye put in as good con-
dton as when first purchased. The |
cost OF an artificial eve varies from ten |
10 fifteen dollars. This may seem a |
high price, but it is rendered necessary |
by the varied and extensive stock the |
oculist is obliged to keep on hand. The |
number 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 il is often |
necessary t0 manufacture one expressly |
TO suit patients needs. -Philadelphia |
Times.
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