CHILDREN'S EYE TROUBLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHILDREN'S EYE TROUBLES.

SECRETS OF GOOD HEALTH. BY SIR W. ARBUTHNOT-LAXE. The maintenance of good general health during the educational period of children must be regarded as a matter of essential importance so far as the eyesight is concerned. « It is in infancy, too, that the greatest peril threatens the eyes. The eyes at birth are often exposed to infection from virulent mioro-organisms causing purulent conjunctivitis, dflicially known as " ophthalmia neo natorum." In former days this was responsible for 30 per cent, of all cases of blindness. Even in these days, under highly elaborated precautions and treatment, the disease exacts a toll which shows its continued, though reduced, malign influence. Of the acute infective diseases, the eyes of children are exposed to the evil effects of small-pox and measles. With regard to the former, anti-vaccina-tionists should note that before the introduction of vaccination one person out of three was the victim of either partial or complete loss of sight from the disease, owing to the cornea becoming inflamed aud being followed by ulceration. In measles, cornea ulcers are also liable to occur—a troublesome form, again, of purulent inflammation of the conjunctiva. The mucous coat of the eve sometimes develops, in measles, which under bad hygienic conditions may lead to serious" secondary infection from virulent micro-organisms, imperilling the integrity of the sight. Any signs of inflammation of the *yes in children who suffer from whooping-cough should at Once receive careful attention. After some children begin school work irritation of the eyelids may become observable. Apart from the locai discomfort, the lids are liable to pass info a condition of chronic inflammation, with marked redness at their edges, accompanied by a discharge which collects among the eyelashes and dries during the night so that the eyes have to be bathed in the morning before the lids can be opened. In the majority of cases this must be regarded as a symptom pointing to some error of refraction, inducing eye-strain, for which optical relief must be provided.