An Improved Apparatus for the Treatment and Correction of Defective Sight.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar,
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Treatment and Correction of
Defective Sight.
We, CHARLES DION, of 52 Boulevard de Clichy, Electrician, and YVAN
ARTHUR MARIE PROSPER GOUBAUX, of 71 Rue de la Tour, Land Owner, both
of Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the treatment of defects or
alterations of vision, the said apparatus enabling normal sight to be given to
persons suffering from myopia, or presbyopia, and permitting the correction of all
deviations of sight, and of imparting activity to or increasing the activity of the
optic nerve by a special massage and gymnastic exercise.
Our invention renders it possible to remedy defects of sight, which are due, as
is known, in persons suffering from myopia, to a prominence of the cornea, and in
persons suffering from presbyopia, to a flattening of the crystalline lens, by a kind of
massage and by a light pressure exercised either on the cornea in the first case, or
around the crystalline lens in the second case, or at any other part of the eye
according to the deviation to be corrected.
Our apparatus renders it possible to reduce, to increase, and speaking. in a
general way,
to regulate the curvature of the eye so as to give it its normal shape:
by means of pads of special form suited to each particular case.
These pads are arranged in such a manner that the operator can, before exerting
the pressure, examine the eye and apply the instrument to the exact place; more
over, they allow the patient, when the operation is completed, to direct his vision
during a certain time on any object, so as to exercise his sight immediately after
the massage.
The pads are mounted on a special apparatus, which permits of their being
adjusted to the desired distance apart, of the regulation of the pressure, and of the
measurement of this pressure by means of a small dynamometer.
In order to render the invention more readily understood, we have shown
our apparatus, in principle, by way of example only, in the accompanying
drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan.
Figure 2 is a front view.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section illustrating one of the pads and its method of
mounting.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the pad for a long-sighted person.
Figure 5 shows a pad for deviation of sight.
Figure 6 shows a special method of mounting the piece serving to secure the
instrument upon the nose of the patient.
Figure 7 shows a slight modification of our apparatus.
Figure 8 shows another modification of the same whereby it is rendered possible
to also produce a gentle suction on the eye.
In these several figures, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Our apparatus consists essentially in a frame a having branches 6 to the ends of
which is attached a piece of elastic material, a strap or band, etc., the length of
which can be varied as required, thus enabling the instrument to be fastened upon
the patient.

page_text: On the inside of the frame a are arranged two sliding cursors c which carry the
pads for exerting pressure on the eyes.
The distance between these cursors which varies according to that between
the eyes of the patient, is regulated by an adjusting-screw d, as shown in
Figures 1 and 3, moving the two eye-pieces, or if desired, this may be effected by
two independent screws.
Each cursor is provided with a socket e, in the interior of which can slide freely
a tube bearing at its end the pad g which is to act on the eye.
In order to enable this pressure to be increased or diminished, we have devised
the following arrangements, viz. :-The socket e contains a spiral spring 4, one end
of which constantly presses against a washer i to which is attached a ring or
sleevej pressing against a milled nut turning on the screw-threaded rod; the
rod l, which is secured to the tube f, can slide freely in the ring or sleeve j.
The socket e is provided with a longitudinal slide-way so as to permit relative
displacement of the ring or sleeve j and of a bracket or support m which connects
the rod to the tube f, and bears a stop n serving to limit the travel of the ring or
sleeve j.
The apparatus being in position, the pads 9 are applied to the eyes by causing
the tube f to slide in the socket e, the pressure is then gradually increased by
turning more or less the nuts k, so as to more or less compress the springs h.
Each ring or sleeve joperates a pointer o, turning about p and moving over a
graduated scale 9, the divisions of which correspond to the different pressures
exerted by the pads g.
The instrument is secured upon the nose of the patient by means of a piece r of
special form as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6. This piece is mounted on a socket s
fitted to slide in a central tube t and maintained in the desired position either by a
clamping screw or in any other suitable manner.
On the piece r is formed a slide-way u, Figure 6, having a series of recesses
which enable it to be inclined at different angles, and consequently to be applicable
to noses of different profile.
The pads g are provided with lateral windows serving to admit light to the eye
and thus facilitating its examination; these windows can be provided with shutters
for the purpose of preventing the light from acting on the eye of the patient
when the latter directs his vision upon a given point through the tubes carrying
the pads.
The arrangement of these pads will vary according to the use to which the
apparatus is to be applied.
For myopia, the pads have either a convex surface, or a flat surface, Figures 1
and 3, or a concave surface, but this must be of less convexity than the eye
to be corrected. This surface is of a transparent material such as glass, for
example.
For presbyopia, the pads have concave surfaces, or consist only of a ring or
crown, Figure 4, for causing the centre of the eye to protrude.
For deformations of the eye, the pads take special forms, varying according to
the defect to be corrected, so as to exercise pressure at the determined part,
Figure 5.
The instrument may comprise an outer pad v, Figure 7, either circular or oval,
or even of the shape of the eye, or only acting, according to the particular case, on
the circumference of the eye, so as to hold the eye in one position and ensure that
the pressure of the inner pad g shall act exactly at the desired place.
The outer pad is, moreover, designed to cause the ocular globe to project in
certain cases, particularly in the treatment of presbyopia, in order that it may be
better acted upon by the inner pad g.
The pressure of the outer pad will be measured the same as that of the inner
pad g, so as to enable these two pressures to be combined at the will of the
operator.
We can also apply to our instrument the devices generally employed for the

page_text: treatment of strabismus or squinting by mounting on the instrument very obscure
or black glasses or opaque plates, which allow the luminous rays to pass only
through their centre (through a small hole provided for this purpose, for example);
the eye is thus obliged to look at objects through the normal centre of vision.
Our instrument thus gradually cures asymmetry of the eyes and completely
restores deviations of sight.
If the asymmetry be very great, the hole will be formed at the limit of vision of
the deviated eye.
The pads of different form above mentioned can also be employed for the
application of electricity which is a powerful curative in the treatment either of
myopia, or of presbyopia, or of ataxia, or of paralysis of the nerve of the eye.
For this purpose it is only necessary to separately insulate each of the pads or
the two together from the body of the apparatus on which they are mounted and.
to put either or both of them in communication with a suitable electric generator.
In certain cases and more especially for the treatment of presbyopia, it may
be useful to produce a gentle suction on the eye to facilitate its modelling on
the pad.
The pad g, tightly fixed on the tube f, is then completely closed laterally
and its annular opening bears directly on the eye below the eye-lid, as shown in
Figure 8.
The pad being thus applied to the eye, a diminution of pressure, in accordance
with the suction required, is produced at the opposite opening of the tube f.
The diminution of pressure can be produced by any suitable means, either by a
pump or simply, as shown in Figure 8, by means of an india-rubber pear P of
which the sucking or exhausting force has been previously measured.
We wish it to be understood that we can apply ali necessary modifications or
variations to our apparatus according to the different applications thereof without
departing from the nature of our said invention.
andhi 1st day of Mon 1806
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings. London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
An Improved Apparatus for the Treatment and Correction of
Defective Sight.
We, CHARLES DION, of 52 Boulevard de Clichy, Electrician, and YVAN
ARTHUR MARIE PROSPER GOUBAUX, of 71, Rue de la Tour, Land Owner, both
of Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the treatment of defects or
alterations of vision, the said apparatus enabling normal sight to be given to
persons suffering from myopia, or presbyopia, and permitting the correction of all
deviations of sight, and of imparting activity to or increasing the activity of the
optic nerve by a special massage and gymnastic exercise.
Our invention renders it possible to remedy defects of sight, which are due, as is
known, in persons suffering from myopia, to a prominence of the cornea, and in
persons suffering from presbyopia, to a flattening of the crystalline lens, by a kind
of massage and by a light pressure exercised either on the cornea in the first case,
or around the crystalline lens in the second case, or at any other part of the eye
according to the deviation to be corrected.

page_text: Our apparatus renders it possible to reduce, to increase, and speaking in a
general way, to regulate the curvature of the eye so as to give it its normal shape
by means of pads of special form suited to each particular case..
These pads are arranged in such a manner that the operator can, before exerting
the pressure, examine the eye and apply the instrument to the exact place;
moreover, they allow the patient, when the operation is completed, to direct his
vision during a certain time on any object, so as to exercise his sight immediately.
after the massage.
The pads are mounted on a special apparatus, which permits of their being
adjusted to the desired distance apart, of the regulation of the pressure, and of the
measurement of this pressure by means of a small dynamometer.
In order to render the invention more readily understood, we have shown our
apparatus, in principle, by way of example only, in the drawing filed with our
Provisional Specification, and in which
Figure 1 is a plan.
Figure 2 is a front view.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section illustrating one of the pads and its method of
mounting.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the pad for a long-sighted person.
Figure 5 shows a pad for deviation of sight.
Figure 6 shows a special method of mounting the piece serving to secure the
instrument upon the nose of the patient.
Figure 7 shows a slight modification of our apparatus.
Figure 8 shows another modification of the same whereby it is rendered possible
to also produce a gentle suction on the eye.
In these several figures, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Our apparatus consists essentially in a frame a having branches to the ends of
which is attached a piece of elastic material, a strap or band, etc., the length of
which can be varied as required, thus enabling the instrument to be fastened upon
the patient.
On the inside of the frame a are arranged two sliding cursors c which carry the
pads for exerting pressure on the eyes.
The distance between these cursors, which varies according to that between the
eyes of the patient, is regulated by an adjusting-screw d, as shown in Figures 1
and 3, moving the two eye-pieces, or if desired, this may be effected by two
independent screws.
Each cursor is provided with socket e, in the interior of which can slide freely
a tube bearing at its end the pad g which is to act on the eye.
In order to enable this pressure to be increased or diminished, we have devised
the following arrangements, viz. :-The socket e contains a spiral spring h, one end
of which constantly presses against a washer i to which is attached a ring or
sleeve i pressing against a milled nut k, turning on the screw-threaded rod 1; the
rod I, which is secured to the tube f, can slide freely in the ring or sleeve j.
The socket e is provided with a longitudinal slide-way so as to permit relative
displacement of the ring or slee vej and of a bracket or support m which connects
the rod to the tube f and bears a stop n serving to limit the travel of the ring or
sleeve j.
The apparatus being in position, the pads g are applied to the eyes by causing
the tube to slide in the socket e, the pressure is then gradually increased by
turning more or less the nuts k, so as to more or less compress the springs h.
Each ring or sleeve j operates a pointer o, turning about p and moving over a
graduated scale q, the divisions of which correspond to the different pressures
exerted by the pads g.
The instrument is secured upon the nose of the patient by means of a piece of
special form as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6. This piece is mounted on a socket s
fitted to slide in a central tube t and maintained in the desired position either by a
clamping screw or in any other suitable manner.

page_text: On the piece r is formed a slide-way u, Figure 6, having a series of recesses.
which enable it to be inclined at different angles, and consequently to be applicable
to noses of different profile.
The pads g are provided with lateral windows serving to admit light to the eye
and thus facilitating its examination; these windows can be provided with shutters.
for the purpose of preventing the light from acting on the eye of the patient when
the latter directs his vision upon a given point through the tubes carrying the pads..
The arrangement of these pads will vary according to the use to which the
apparatus is to be applied.
For myopia, the pads have either a convex surface, or a flat surface, Figures 1
and 3, or a concave surface, but this must be of less convexity than the eye-
to be corrected. This surface is of a transparent material such as glass, for
example.
For presbyopia, the pads have concave surfaces, or consist only of a ring or crown,
Figure 4, for causing the centre of the eye to protrude.
For deformations of the eye, the pads take special forms, varying according
to the defect to be corrected, so as to exercise pressure at the determined part,
Figure 5.
The instrument may comprise an outer pad v, Figure 7, either circular or oval,..
or even of the shape of the eye, or only acting, according to the particular
case, on the circumference of the eye, so as to hold the eye in one position.
and ensure that the pressure of the inner pad g shall act exactly at the desired
place.
The outer pad is, moreover, designed to cause the ocular globe to project in
certain cases, particularly in the treatment of presbyopia, in order that it may be
hetter acted upon by the inner pad.
The pressure of the outer pad will be measured the same as that of the inner
pad g, so as to enable these two pressures to be combined at the will of the
operator.
We can also apply to our instrument the devices generally employed for the
treatment of strabismus or squinting by mounting on the instrument very obscure
or black glasses or opaque plates, which allow the luminous rays to pass only
through their centre (through a small hole provided for this purpose, for
example); the eye is thus obliged to look at objects through the normal centre of
vision.
Our instrument thus gradually cures asymmetry of the eyes and completely
restores deviations of sight.
If the asymmetry be very great, the hole will be formed at the limit of vision of
the deviated eye.
The pads of different form above mentioned can also be employed for the
application of electricity which is a powerful curative in the treatment either of
myopia, or of presbyopia, or of ataxia, or of paralysis of the nerve of the eye.
For this purpose it is only Decessary to separately insulate each of the pads.
or the two together from the body of the apparatus on which they are mounted
and to put either or both of them in communication with a suitable electric-
generator.
In certain cases and more especially for the treatment of presbyopia, it may
be useful to produce a gentle suction on the eye to facilitate its modelling on
the pad.
The pad g, tightly fixed on the tube f, is then completely closed laterally and
its annular opening bears directly on the eye below the eye-lid, as shown in
Figure 8.
The pad being thus applied to the eye, a diminution of pressure, in accordance
with the suction required is produced at the opposite opening of the tube f
This diminution of pressure can be produced by any suitable means, either by a.
pump or simply, as shown in Figure 8, by means of an india-rubber pear P of
which the sucking or exhausting force has been previously measured.

page_text: We wish it to be understood that we can apply all necessary modifications or
variations to our apparatus according to the different applications thereof without
departing from the nature of our said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The improved apparatus for the treatment of defects or alterations of vision,
and more especially presbyopia, comprising fixed pads mounted on two tubes
capable of sliding freely in the interior of two sockets, of which the distance apart
is controlled by an adjusting screw, the pressure exerted by each pad being
determined by the action of a spring the tension of which can be varied at will,
the said tension being measured by a small dynamometer, substantially as
herein before described and for the purposes specified.
2. In an apparatus for the purposes above specified, the use of a suitable device
for producing a partial vacuum or a diminution of pressure, such, for example,
as an india-rubber pear, for the purpose of effecting a slight suction on the eye
to facilitate the modelling thereof on the pad, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference
to either of the forms or modifications shown in the drawing, and operating as and
for the purposes above specified.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.