The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-06-13

socket with an overhanging ridge.
which well protects II from external
injury.
The eye communicates with the brain
through the optic nerve. which passes
through a hole In the back Of the
bony eye socket and spreads out on
the inner surface OF the cavity of the
eyeball to form the retina. The crys-
talline lens and Its ligaments divide
the eye into two chambers, the anterior
and the posterior. The anterior cham
Der In very small and lies between the
cornea, or outer surface Of the eye,
and the lens II IL filed with fluid
similar to tears, the aqueous humor.
The posterior chamber Is large and
constitutes the cavity of the eyeball
behind the crystalline lens 1t Is
filed with transparent, jellylike sub
stance, the vitreous humor The iris
Is circular, muscular curtain, an
extension of one of the coats of the
eyeball. which by dilating or contract
Ing controls the amount Of light ad-
mitted to the interior Of the eye. The
shape Of the crystalline lens is also
controlled by the little ciliary muscles.
Varieties Of Defective Sight.
| 'Astigmhtism Is caused by an in
equality In the curvature of the cor
nea. This may occur In any meridian
of the eye and requires glasses that
Will so bend the rays as to correct the
DETECTION caused by the irregular sur
face.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is caused by
an unduly long eyeball from before
backward. The rays of light meet be-
fore they reach the retina. The cornea
In such cases Is usually abnormally
convex
Farsightedness.-T Is caused by a
short eyeball from before backward.
The rays of light fail to meet before
they reach the retina.
In both of the above conditions a dis
torted image il formed. and glasses
are required either for near or distant
vision.
Importance Of Proper Glasses.
The degree of injury that results
from errors Of refraction depends upon
the temperament and constitution Of
the individual as well as the extent Of
the error. just as little tobacco or
alcohol will In some subjects produce
chaos In the nervous system so will a
slight retroactive error In person Of
unstable nervous organization cause a
profound disturbance Of the general
health.
When a retroactive error exists the
cfliary muscles endeavor to correct IL
by altering the shape of the lens. Tn.
less the error Is extreme the effort is
usually successful, and the patient
thinks he has good eyesight. But
condition Of tension exists In the mech
anism Of accommodation which Will
be reflected in long train Of nervous
symptoms, especially headaches, I'M
less the subject is Of an especially ro-
bust and resistant type.
If the eye were lifeless optical In
strument any shopkeeper would be
qualified to test 1t and with a little
training could prescribe correct glasses.
As the eye is a living organ II should
be tested with due regard to that fact
and by physician who can study the
eye conditions as whole and not
alone the optical conditions which have
been created by combination Of the
retroactive error and the patients effort
to correct II. BY certain drugs the
accommodation OF the patient is over
come. and the full degree Of the error
Is revealed. The moral is not to trihe
with the window of your brain" by
letting some man on the street fit you
with glasses. You will save money
and health by going to the man who
knows" physician trained to the
work.
When glasses are required they
should be worn-the earlier the bet
ter. Some people keep away from the
oculist just as they keep away from
the dentist, paying dearly in the end.
Bathing the Eyes.
Ordinarily the eyes are kept clean by
the secretion Of the lachrymal glands.
which is a weak saline fluid. when
the eyes are irritated by dust or slight.
ly indamed solution % boracic acid.
ten grains to the ounce of distilled wa
ter, is useful preparation. Pure wa
ter Is Irritating and should not be
rubbed or dashed into the eyes.
There are no mysterious or magic
eye waters or cures for cataract. The
latter trouble is for the surgeon. All
such nostrums either contain simple
astringents. In which case they are
harmless. but unduly expensive, or
they contain powerful drugs. which
mask disease. but do not cure II, and
are dangerous when self administered.
In using eye lotions the eye dropper
Is preferable to the eye cup. The lat
ter washes the margin Of the lids and
may carry infectious matter to the del
lcate membrane covering the eyeball
In acute Inflammation Ice cold COM
presses made Of gauze and wrung out
in boracic acid solution should be used.
Later on hot congresses may prove
more serviceable and soothing.
When any member Of the house
hold has infiamed eyes he should ex-
trcise great care not to infect others,
Separate towels should be used and
subsequently sterilized. and compress