The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-05

only, and then only through
his column.
lively intense illumination is nee
essary for visual efficiency and
that weak illumination causes dis
ease Of the eyes is widely held. A
recent treatise says, Improper
lighting conditions and the misuse
of light and the eyes are effective
in causing eyestrain and perma-
nent injury to the eyes"
According TO rne new creed OF
visual efficiency, the optimal
amount of artificial light is said
to be far in excess Of that now
prevailing in "a half seeing
world"
The basic ideas Of the higher
illumination campaign are un-
justified on the grounds Of eff
cheney and also on the grounds of
eye health. A very bad psyche
logical state is induced by the i'm
plication that the illumination in
the average home and Office results
in some organic harm to the eyes.
Some of these statements are illus
trated by pictures of blind man
being led by Seeing Eye dog, the
suggestion being that he became
blind because of bad illumination
in his home.
No Permanent Injury
The fact is that no permanent
injury ever occurs 10 the eyes
from bad illumination. 1t is true
that prolonged concentration un-
der inadequate seeing conditions,
estimated at less than 8 foot
candles, will result in fatigue. But
the fatigue is one of attention and
the complaint is generally head
ache. The average illumination in
most homes and Offices is entirely
adequate for work with the eyes
and it can be stated quite def
nitely that it does not ever cause
any permanent injury. The fact
that it causes fatigue or headache
is not significant because these
are protective mechanisn1s and
the reader or worker stops when
they appear.
A similar suggestion Of fear
has been inculcated in campaign
against reading from glossy pa
per. There is no satisfactory evil
dence that nearsightedness is the
result of much close work, poor
illumination or reading print on
glossy paper, whereas there is
much evidence against it.
Careful medical examination
shows that a new 40-watt frosted
bulb will provide an illumination
of 10 foot-candles at % inches, lie
at 19 inches, and 25 at ID inches.
This is entirely adequate for nor.
NAL purposes although perhaps
more intense illumination may be
needed for elderly people whose
vision has been uncorrected by
lenses. 1t is not necessary whep
suitable glasses are worn.
The fact is, every man can judge
very easily the amount of illumi-
nation that gives him comfortable
sight. There is no more reason
why he should have light meter
in his home than why he should
have thermometer for measur-
ing the temperature Of his food
or a pair Of scales for weighing
his breakfast
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
S. H:.:-"I am a young woman
80 years of age and am already
showing symptoms Of varicose
veins. l have only two enlarged
veins but the rest are becoming
enlarged? Is it advisable to take
injections in the early stage Of
varieese Ieins?"
Answer - The only contradic-
ton to the injection of varicose
veins is when they are due to a
complicating condition such as
pregnancy, dropsy of the abdom-
en-, or abdominal cyst. Some oper-
ators believe that they should be
injected only when they are caus-
ing disability, but the view is
broadening that injection can be
done at very early stages, even
for slight varicosities and sun
bursts"