The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-08
YOUNGSTERS AND GLASSES.

1t is apparent that more children are
wearing glasses than used to be the
case. and the question frequently Oc-
ours as to the cause of this state of
affairs. says the Journal Of the Ameri-
can Medical Association. Are children
having too heavy demands made on
them. or are glasses being ordered
when there is no necessity for them?
1t is undoubtedly the fact that the
average child nowadays has more
schoolwork than formerly, and among
all classes the eyes of the child are
being used for near work to a greater
extent than was the case generation
ago. During the growing period OF the
child, the outer envelope. or support
ing tissue of the eyeball. does not at
tain it's full degree of firmness and
hardness. and any strain on the focus
ing muscles has a tendency to make
the eyeban stretch. This stretching of
the eyeball is really the condition
which is commonly known as near
sightedness, and, is caused in most in
stances by strain in reading. Many
people believe that a child may be
born near-sighted. but this is not the
case. Near-sightednees always occurs
from strain. and in the great majority
of cases can be prevented, or at least
kept down to low degrees. 1t requires
no special knowledge to appreciate the
fact that tissue when stretched is
weaker than before and is likely to go
on stretching. and this Is the danger in
near-sighted eyes. Such eyes are apt
to stretch and grow worse until the
child attains its full growth, and the
tissues have a chance to become hard
and firm. hence, 1t is during the pc
riod of growth that damage to the eyes
is most apt to occur. If the stretch
ing of the eyeball goes beyond a certain
point, the delicate nerve tissues inside
the eye are apt to become stretched
to an extent which they cannot stand.
and tears and breaks occur in them
with damage to the sight. These
breaks cannot be remedied, nor for
that matter can the eye when it is once
stretched come back to its normal size.
In very high degrees Of stretching even
blindness may result.
There is current belief that near
sightedness runs in families, and this,
while partly true, Is really an unfor-
tunate misconception. Certain fami-
lies have softer tissues in the eye than
others, and their eyes stretch more
easily to a certain degree of strain.
This should only make such people
more cautious to avoid strain and
does not by any means imply that it is
necessary for such children to be near
sighted. The cause of this strain in
the young child Is astigmatism. There
are other contributing causes. such
as a too short eyeball. poor gen.
cral health. which makes the tissues
weaker and less resistant. and also the
disposition of the child, some children
preferring to sit and read all day rath-
er than go out and exercise in the open
air.
All these questions must receive
to be prevented. but that asti9matism
is the principal cause IL well known.
This world is becoming rather IA
miliar. and yet its meaning is constant
ly misunderstood. Many people sup
pose that astigmatism means a differ
ence in the two eyes, which IL entirely
wrong. 1t IL an irregularity Of the
front part OF the eye where the curves
should be symmetrical but are not.
curves makes objects appear blurred
Certain lines in the objects looked at
seem fairly distinct while certain 9TH
ers are blurred. and this causes the eye
Ito make strong muscular efforts to