HEALTH NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20146, 5 April 1927, Page 5

HEALTH NOTES

CHILDREN’S EYESIGHT. SOME COMMON DEFECTS. (Contributed by the Department of Health.) The eyes are the most delicately constructed organs in the body; parents therefore should not handicap their children by allowing their eyes to be damaged through neglect or carelessness. As far as possible children should work, play, and sleep in the open air. The eyes should be shaded from bright or direct sunlight. Continued use of the eyes for close or fine work should be avoided, especially by young children. Sewing, reading books or reading music injure the eyes when children are tired or sleepy. Children should not attend picture shows frequently; and, when they do, it is important that they should not sit

too near the screen dr too far to the side; they should sit as near as possible to the middle of the hall. During convalescence from illness many children read excessively. At this time the eyes share the general weakness of the body, and require rest. Care

is especially necessary after the common infective fevers, such as measles, scarlet fever, etc. Complete restoration to health after I illness is of the utmost importance. See • that children always work in a good light, i Avoid excessive glare on book. Light should fall over the shoulder, the left preferable for writing. DEFECTS TREATED. Unless properly treated, defects of eyesight tend to become worse as the child proceeds through school. A child with defective eyesight is seriously handicappel in his education. Many children with defective eyesight lose heart and become backward, while those who keep up in their studies generally do so at the expense of their eyes. Defective education means lessened ability to earn a good living, while a good education loses much of its value when gained at the cost of permanent damage to the eyes. A child with defective eyesight suffers also in his general health. He is apt to become nervous and timid, unable to take his place in health giving sports and recreations. lie may be subject to headaches, and sometimes to digestive troubles arising from eye-strain. COMMON DEFECTS. Near sight (myopia).—This is a very serious condition. The child cannot see anything clearly in the distance, and in reading brings the book close up to the eyes. If neglected, the sight becames steadily |vorse —often rapidly worse in a studious child—and may lead to practical blindness. The progress of the trouble can be checked and the defect corrected by means of suitable glasses and by improvement of the general health of the child.

Far sight (hypermetropia).—This is more common among children than near sight. If it results in eye strain, this may be shown by frowning, red eyelids, squinting, headaches, nervousness, or backwardness. All these symptoms can be relieved by wearing suitable glasses. Astigmatism.—This is the most common of all eye defects. It may be associated with either near sight or far sight. It results in blurred vision, and sometimes headache and nervousness. It can be corrected by suitable glasses. Cross eyes or squint. -It is of the utmost importance that this defect should be treated as early as possible, and you should therefore obtain medical advice as soon as I ever the squint appears. The trouble can frequently be rectified by glasses alone if treated early. If not treated, the sight of the crossed eye will become poorer and poorer until at last it becomes practically blind. Suspect defective eyesight in children who habitually take up peculiar positions, who hold the head to one side, who squint, who have red eyelids, who make frequent mistakes in reading and writing, or who frequently complain of headache. Consult an eye specialist or ophthalmic surgeon, not an optician, about children suspected to be suffering from defective eyesight. INFLAMED EYELIDS. Blepharitis (inflamed eyelids).—This is sometimes simple, and can be cured by bathing night and morning with warm boracic lotion, carefully removing all crusts from the edges of the eyelids. To soften the crusts, apply some mild ointment (e.g. weak boracic or vaseline) nightly after bathing. Be thorough, regular, and patient in carrying out the treatment. As inflammation often persists owing to infection from dirt I conveyed on the fingers, be especially careful to keep the child’s face, body, and hands as clean as possible. If the condition does not soon disappear, a doctor should be consulted, as it may be due to some underlying cause, as defective vision or general debility.