The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-11-22
Eyes and Lighting.

/
needs to be more carefully protected
than that of sight. Throughout prac-
tically all of our waking hours, the
| eyes are on duty; contributing to our
| enjoyment, acquiring knowledge, and
| protecting us from pitfalls and dam
gers No wonder, With the constantly
! changing focus for near and distant
| objects, that the eve is subjected TO
| considerable strain This is true under
ideal conditions OF lighting and visual
hygiene and is aggravated under the
conditions that only too frequently
| exist.
II has been estimated that at least
fourth of the population is more
or less handicapped by some defect Of
the eyes. Among the school popula-
ton, from 10 to 80 per cent need
in schools increases the tendency.
Therefore, though the schools cannot
be said to be the underlying cause of
a child's nearsightedness, bad school
glasses. The defects requiring this
correction are nearsightedness tmyo-
pial, farsightedness (hyperopia), astig.
matism, and squint.
The shape of the orbit. or bony
socket of the eve, is probably the chief
factor in the production Of nearsight
and an excessive amount of near work
hygiene will undoubtedly aggrsvate
the trouble already existing. Anything
which causes a pupil to hold his book
too near the eyes, or TO assume a
STOPPING position while at work in
school. as too fine print, insufficient
light, or unsuitable desk or chair, may
result in the development of more
serious degree of nearsightedness. An
excessive amount Of near work will
causc strain in even a normal eve.
A slight degree Of far sight is nor
NAL in young children, and need cause
no special concern other than to avoid
overmuch near work. Marked far
sightedness, however, is one Of the
most serious causes of eye strain, and
if not corrected, may lead to very
harmful results.
Astigmatism is the effect of irregu-
larity in the shape OF the cornea THE
clear part of the eye BALI. This pro
duces blurred vision because the child
can see better in one meridian than the
other If the astigmetism is slight the
eye carrects the fault BY using its
power Of accommodation, but this en-
tails strain Hence, astigmstism ranks
with far sight as cause OF eye strain. |
II is also one of the causes Of faulty !
posture, since the child naturally turns
his head and twists his body till he
gets into the position where he can see
the best.
Squint, or cross.eye, IL one Of the |
very serious defects Of the eve the i'm |
portance Of which many parents fail I
to realize Though they, of course, |
are troubled at its effect on the ap (
pearance of their children. they do not I
understand that unless the defect is
corrected early in life Thy the sixth |
or seventh year there is great danger I
that the vision in the affected eve win I
be greatly impaired if not lost alto
gether.
If treatment is begun early. even in
infancy ii observed then, the eyes may
usually be Strengthened by glasses,
without an operation
ANY evidence of eve strain Or de
fective vision should call for an OK
animation BY an oculist. Painful wa
tering or congested eyes, twitching or I
sore lids, sensitiyeu to light. frown
ing, peculiar position of the head, diff
frulty in seeing work on the board. n
holding the book near the eyes, poor
spelling or reading, blurred or double
vision. headache common, fatigue,
dizziness, sleeplessness.
and lack Of control are
among the symptoms Of eve strain
Every effort should be made in both
home and school to conserve the vision
Of the child The light should come
from the left and the rear. In school
rooms the windows should he msssed
On the left side. towards tbs rear, with
none in the back Of the room because
he teachers ewes should not be sub
iected to the strain of looking towards
he Light
The window glass space Of school
-oom should he about one fourth of the
1oor space. and all windows should
each almost to the ceiling Opaque
hades should be used only to exclude
urect sunlight. In addition TO these.
light colored translucent shades should
,e used. The combination up-and
Town shade or the new style adjusta
BE roller should be substituted for the
I'D fashioned shade.
The coloring Of the room should be
mch as to reflect the light without
flare. The ceiling should be almost
White. and the walls may be buff, pale
an or gray teither creamy or with
ust touch Of greenl.
For further protection of the eyes of
chool children, the textbooks should
'e printed on white unglszed paper
With large print. short lines and wide
Margins. Every child should be seat
a where he will have sufficient light.
nd the program of near work should
e broken by periods when there will
c no tax on the eyes. Especially is :
his desirable in the case Of younger
hildren.