The Washington herald., 1912-01-28

corrected by glasses. There are cases
in which the eyes are perfectly straight
, most Of the time. and turn only when
\ the child is tired or studying intently;
| these are easiest to cure. As a general
proposition, crossed eyes can be cured
by glasses II the child be treated before
the age OF six or seven; after that age
glasses may cure, but an operation is
usually necessary.
The wearing OF glasses is for a two
fold purpose: to, correct vision when
necessary, and to relieve the symptoms
OF strain. such as headache, nausea,
crusting OF the lids, &c, when these
sees perfectly, this acute vision may be
accomplished by an unconscious strain,
which may be OF such a degree as to
produce headache, &C. Therefore. II the
children have headaches, IL they have
nausea, do not think that because they
see perfectly the eyes need no atten-
ton.
We hesitate, OF course. to put glasses
upon a child, and prescribe them only
when It cannot be avoided But once
they are ordered, they should be worn,
in spite OF prejudice on the part OF
parents or child.
Some Simple Rules.
There are many simple facts which
can be put before the children them
selves:
Do not rub the eyes hard when they
smart or burn: rather, battle them in
cold water. This will drive away the
congestion and relieve the symptoms.
Many severe infections Of the eyes
can be accounted for by the children's
carrying infective material from
street car straps. ratings, &C., into
the eyes by rubbing.
When sand or dirt gets into the
eyes, do not try to rub It out. Eyes 4
have been lost from infection follow
ing ulcerations caused by rubbing grit
against the eye ball. Rather, keep
the eyes closed, with a handkerchief
held against them, until some one can
wash out the foreign matter with
boric acid or solution Of borax and
tepid water.
In case OF injury to the eve. as a
first aid treatment, II Is safer to
bathe the eye in cold water until
skilled treatment can be had. For
the treatment OF the so-caIled black
eve, hot bathing Is best. but unless
there is obviously no injury to the
eve ball. do not use heat.
II an eye be cut, tic n clean hand
kerchief over 1t and hasten to your
physician
Do not use eye drops in eyes OF
others than those for whom they are
ordered. This is a very common prac-
tive. and most reprehensible. Often
dangerous.
Protected from Direct Light.
During Infancy the eyes must be pro-
tected from direct light. The carriage
awning should be dark and adjusted to
the position OF the sun. The baby is
Just as apt as not to open its eyes and
gaze In a roundabout way at the sun. |
children also are prone to stare at the
sun on dare. and judge the strength Of
tne eyss by their ability to gaze longer |
man can other cfildren. Focus the sun |
SHARPLY on youf wrist a few seconds with /,
lens. and notice the burning pain. |
Imagine what must be the effect OF such |
an exposure for even a second upon the |
eye. Every year in which there is an I
eciioSc OF the sun we see blindness. some |
temporary. some permanent, as a result |
OF looking At the sun without the pro- ,
lection OF a colored lens.
II IS desirable to mention in this paper |
oricffy the cffe-t cf poor food upon the |
eyes. As Is explained above, in many |,
people Use OF The eyes Is con, Portable olly !
during perfect health and strength. In |
the New York school investigation which |
have mentioned above, It was discov- |
cred that many OF the children of the /
poor went 10 school with no breakfast.