Evening star., 1938-11-20
Methods Of Treatinq
Eye Diseases Told
By Dr.. Mossman
Speech Closes Conference
Of Conservation Of
Vision Institute

MetnOdS OF treating the nVe dis
eases Of the optical organs causing
most of the blindness in the District
of Columbia were discussed yester-
day by DR.. Paul D. Mossman, senior
surgeon of the Public Health Service,
In speech closing a six-day session
of the Institute of Conservation of
Vision at the auditorium of the Dis
trict Medical Society, 17l8 M street
NV.
The institute was sponsored by the
recently organized District of Co.
lumbia Society for the Prevention of
Blindness.
Before taking up the chief causes
OF blindness here DR.. Mossman
pointed out the difference between
blindness which entities persons to
public assistance and that which
keeps them from effectively making
their way in the world. The second
form is termed practical or indus
trial blindness" he said. For in
stance, a farmer is "industrially
blind If he can't see hoe handle
length away. However, he can
still see to walk, eat, ETC., DR.. Moss
man said.
Names Big Five Causes.
The big five of the diseases causing
blindness in Washington and in most
cities, he said, are cataract, glau-
coma. purulent conjuntivitis of the
newborn child caused by gonor-
rheal infection in the mother and
lnterstitial keratitis and optic afro
ply. both caused by syphilis.
Cataract is, in many cases, oper-
able" he said, land possibilities of
saving or restoring sight should be
carefully canvassed before any case
is given up as hopelessly blind. Many
persons, who through ignorance con-
slider blindness inevitable from cat
aract, could be saved by operation
II they would submit to prompt and
timely examination"
Neglect Treatment.
The prevalence of glaucoma is In
great part due to the fact that pa-
tients suffering from it are prone to
neglect their treatment and eve
clinics lack sufficient stats of trained
social workers to do instructive fol-
low-up work on cases under treat
ment, he explained.
Only last year was the District
provided law prescribing prophy-
Tactic treatment of conjunctivitis in
newborn children shall be admin
lstered by all physicians and mid
wives. Strict enforcement of this
measure is imperative if this form of
blindness is to be controlled, DR..
Mossman said.
Close cooperation between syph-
Ills clinics and eye clinics, so that
treatment may prevent total blind
ness, is needed in controlling the two
eye diseases caused by 1.-The great
imltator," DR.. Mossman said,
Program Announced,
AS the institute closed, Mrs. Allen
l.. Worries. first vice president of the
society and presiding officer at YES
terday's session. served notice of the
intention Of her organization to
fight for the following sight con-
servatory measures in the District:
l. Prenatal examination.
2. Pre-school examination.
3. An oculist in the public school
system.
4. Follow-up work in the eve
clinics.
5. A lighting survey of Washing
ton schools.
6. General education about the
eye.
Preceding DR.. Mossman's talk.
Mrs. Winnifred Hathaway stressed
the need for sight conservation work
IN schools. After telling of the
growth and development of chill
dren's eyes and common visual de-
fects and their manifestations, she
laid great emphasis on the need for
better classroom lighting and seat
ing and the need for special educa-
tional facilities for partially-seeing
children.
The curricula in such specialized
classes need not differ from those
IN others, but better light, large
chalk and pencils, large print and
oversize-type typewriters are used
instead of the normal eouipment
she pionted out.