CARE OF THE EYES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7637, 21 February 1903, Page 3

CARE OF THE EYES.

Nowhere is the comparison between an ounce of prevention and a pound of cure more applicable than in the care of the eyes, for the neglect of seemingly trivial affections — perfectly curable in their beginnings — may lead in an incredibly short time to permanent impairment of vision, or even to total blindness. The care of the eyes should begin with the moment of birth-. The new baby's eyes should be the first part to receive attention. They should be wiped carefully with' a piece of absorbent cotton, wet with % warm solution of 'boric acid, of a strength of about sixty grains in four ounces of distilled water. After the lids have been thus carefully washed on the outside they should be gently separated, and some of the solution dropped into the ej-ea In washing the eyes one should be careful never to dip again in the solution a piece of cotton which has once been used ; a fresh piece tnusfc be taken eaich time the «yes are wiped. i The baby's eyes must be protected from the light ; its crib should be placed where t'he eyes are not exposed to the full ligiht from a window, and the carriage should have a shade raised only about a. foot above the ba.by's head. Children often suffer from inflammation of the edges of the Jids, which are red -and scaly, and the lashes fall out and break off. This may betoken a> general scrofulous condition, or it may depend upon some defect in t-he sight which causes eye-strain, or it may be only a local trouble. If it is only a local trouble, a few applications of boric acid ointment at bedtime will generally effect a cure. Conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the membrane covering the globe of theeyej, may be due to a cold, to the action of bright sunlight, or reflection from water or from snow, or to eye-strain from some visual imperfection. Usually the boric acid solution will give relief here, even when the trouble cannot be permanently cured until proper glasses are worn. Another painful cons&iuence eye-strain is a succession of sties. \When a child suffers frequently from sties, from sore lids, or from conjunctivitis, the sight should be tested. Much harm is often done to the eyes, as well as to the general health, by too long application to books, either school or storybooks. Three hours of looking at print by daylight and one hour in. the evening should not be exceeded by any child under fourteen, for that is as much as his eyes, even if their vision is perfectly normal, will stand without injury.