Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-30
PROPER CARE OF THE EYES
Expert Information and instruction for
the Laity.
LIGHT FOR READING PURPOSES
Foolish Prejudice Against Glasses
Attention in Youth Insures
Healthy Eyes for
Adult Years.

-
SO many people inquire as to the best
means Of preserving vision that expert in
formation and instruction on the subject
VIII be OF general interest. Frank Airport,
M. d., professor Of diseases of the eve and
ear, Northwestern University, woman's
Medical college, Chicago, writes in the Chi
cago Tribune as follows:
Bright daylight, without the direct rays
OF the sun, is the best illumination for eye
work. Therefore, a north window is to be
preferred, and is usually chosen by dentists,
artists and others doing fine work. In
reading. but especially In writing, paint
ing, ETC., the light should come from the
left, as in any other lateral position save
one the head. body or hand shades the
page, canvas, ETC.; the one exception is
when the light faces the individual, which
makes a bad direction for illumination, as
the constant and direct glare is trying on
the eyes.
The best artificial illumination is the
one which the most nearly Stimulates day
light. Perhaps a large students lamp,
with a green and white shade, is as good a
light as can be used. A gas drop light
with a green and white shade makes a good
reading light. The Welsbach drop light,
unless properly controlled, is intense, but
when controlled by a white chimney and a
green and white globe 1t makes a good form
OF illumination. The electric drop light
should also be properly regulated by a
green and white globe and by a ground
glass bulb, as otherwise an annoying and
injurious reflection is thrown upon the
page, II it is sufficiently close to the light.
No overhead light or chandelier affords
sufficient illumination. The light should
be brought dow to the individual, should
be brilliant, steady and properly regulated
and should stand to the left and a little
forward.
Injurious Practices.
Reading in carriages, cars, etc., is OBJ
viously injurious, as the jolting Of the
vehicle necessitates a constant changing Of
the focus and an unsteadiness of the page
which necessarily taxes the eye to an
extreme degree. Still. as most people will
continue this bad habit, let them practice
1t as little as possible and under as good
circumstances as are o~btainable.
Reading In a recumbent position Is q
prolific source Of eye strain. Especially Is
this true during convalescence following a
severe illness, when the temptation is
pul u BChCA al ohu ONuAa ogStCL1o
are weak and unable to stand even a lin
injurious even in health, owing to the fact
that it is practically impossible to hold a
book in a favorable position, where the
muscles of the eye will not undergo excess
sive strain in accommodating themselves to
the abnormal posture. How much more SO
must 1t be then in sickness, and yet how
universally do convalescents indulge in this
fascinating but injurious occupation. Many
eyes are injured and some even lost by
reading In bed.
1t is gratifying to notice that people are
becoming much more careful than formerly
in selecting reading matter with good print.
and yet much Of the print thrown upon
the market is bad and Injurious to the eyes.
This is especially true Of cheap and sensa-
tional novels, and as these are principally
read by the young, whose eyes are in a
formative period, much seed for future
ocular trouble Is sown. In choosing reading
matter too much care cannot be bestowed
upon the selection of large, clear type ana
upon good paper, and, as almost everything
worth reading can be found we'll printed.
cheap and injurious publications should be
eschewed.
The paper from which we read, or upon
ulCn VIC NIAlCg 10 Va II IN n u
surfaced, slightly tinted paper is preferable
to white, and the best tints are delicate
shades Of gray, neutral tint or blush
green.
Wearing Glasses.
Ordinarily, there is a great ~indisposition
to wear glasses, a prejudice born and fos>
tered Of pride and ignorance. Few preju-
dices are more foolish, for the proper ad-
justment of glasses to improperly focusing
eyes is one OF the greatest boons to hu-
manity. Where glasses are needed they
should be worn, and a failure to do so
means deterioration of ocular health and
functions, and usually produces much I'M
necessary suffering and Inconvenience to
the individual. Indistinct, near or far
vision, blurring, tired eyes, headache, ETC.,
are some of the symptoms indicating the
need Of properly adjusted glasses. Upon
the recognition Of such symptoms a physi-
clan making a study Of eye diseases should
be consulted. II you are unacquainted with
such q one, your family physician will
direct you where to go.
The care of the eyes commences In early
childhood, and an intelligent supervision by
parents at this dependent period OF life will
go far toward insuring healthy eyes during
the adult years. The attention OF an infant
should not De directed 10 OBJECTS nelu ClOoc
to the face, and similar precautions should
not be neglected as the child grows older, as
It predisposes to short-sightedness and
other evils. Children should. therefore. be
discouraged from playing with small OBJ
jects, toys, ETC., and from porting over story
and picture books. They should be encour-
aged In outdoor amusements n sports,
where the eyes during these developing per-
iods OF life can have wide range and free
scope, and where the general physical
health and development may take prece-
dence over ocular and Intellectual labor.
Eyes are not infrequently injured by ex>
actions which would never be demanded OF
any other organ OF the body, they evidently
being regarded as untiring and exhaustless.
This is especially true after a physician has
been consulted and glasses procured. People
appear to consider that after this has been
accomplished their ocular functions should
have the strength and endurance OF steel.
It must never be forgotten that the eye is a
delicate and complex organ, and, that while
II Is long suffering. its endurance has a
limit, which, II pressed too far, will rebel
and precipitate the most direful conse-
quences. The eye should, therefore, be
treated with judgment, should be OCCASION