Advanced Optometry.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue VIII, 22 August 1903, Page 526

Advanced Optometry.

A VISIT TO MR G. E. READ'S EYETESTING ROOMS AT READ BROS.’ JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT, KARANGAHAI’E RD., AUCKLAND. There are, perhaps, few subjects nearly concerning themselves and their comfort on which the publie are so careless and so ignorant as their eyes. The average man or woman never troubles to think — far less to test their eyesight, or that of their children—to see if their eyes are doing the work expected of them, but are content to take things as they go, till very likely a defect, which might have been remedied in youth with properly adjusted lenses, results in most serious complications, such as convergent or divergent squints, or, worse still, probably partial or total loss of sight. There has been, too, for years, a tendency amongst a certain class to buy spectacles haphazard, as they would any other commo dity, picking the same from a miscellaneous collection of low-priced rubbish, and being content to take the first pair which gave any improvement of vision, and quite oblivious of the fact that the article thus taken might be doing incalculable injury, by being either too strong or too weak, and of imperfect manufacture. Of late years much improvement has taken place, and it is beginning to be universally recognised that when eye trouble is suspected a visit to a skilled optician is just as essential as one to a medical man when the health is poor. Until recently, however, opticians in our midst were not always available, and the charges for advice were in some instances somewhat severe on moderate purses. This hlas been changed of late, and there are now in Auckland up-to-date optical rooms, where the eyes can be tested and suitable glasses furnished when required. It has been left to a young, but well-known, firm to fit up eye-testing chambers of the most elaborate description, with every instrument and appliance known to modern science with regard to the eye, and equipped, as are few, if any, rooms of a similar description outside England or the States. Years ago Mr G. E. Read of the well-known firm of Read Bros., manufacturing jewellers, took an interest in optics, and after some general study on the subject determined to devote himself entirely to the profession of an optician, and to ac-

quire the utmost knowledge and skill in his power in this direction. With diseases of the eye requiring medical or surgical treatment he does not pretend to deal, frankly saying that the visitor must go to a professional man; but for any defect whatsoever which lenses can rectify, Mr Read is prepared, and he can, and does supply the remedy. A visit to the new rooms which he has fitted up at the firm of Read Bros? well-known premises, Karangahape - road, would probably astonish the not inconsiderable number of persons who have looked upon the purchase of spectacles as a matter involving little necessity for trouble or thought. First of all, then, Mr Read’s rooms are remarkable for the completeness with which they are fitted up with the very latest opthalmometer, retinoscop, and apparatus for skiaseopic ex-

amination. The opthalmometer is an instrument used for diagnosing for astigmatism. This defect is caused through a want of evenness in the curvature of the cornea, and requires specially-ground lenses for its correction. The retinoscope is an instrument for making an objective examination of the eye. By its aid all myopic hypermetropic and astigmatic defects in the refraction of the eye can be accurately obtained without asking a single question or without the use of drops for dilating the pupil. By this examination any defeet in vision arising from disease of the retina, or some opacity of the cornea or lens, rendering the case beyond the aid of glasses, is at once revealed, and the patient is advised to consult an oculist for treatment. Another interesting point is that few people are aware of the share de-

fective eyesight, when unremedied, may play in the minor but distressing maladies of headache, neuralgia, nervousness, irritability and nauseous feelings, etc.; but as a fact the eyes are frequently responsible, and glasses of proper strength would often and often remove the trouble.

Mr Read has had many eases through his hands, where persons who have suffered from what they thought was neuralgia for years have been permanently cured by the using of proper spectacles. Sleeplessness is, too, not infrequently connected with the straining of defective eyesight, uncorrected by glasses. There can be no doubt that at one time many people who were conscious of short-sight, or, perhaps, long-sight.

A VISIT TO MR. G. E. READ’S EYE-TESTING ROOMS AT RBAD BROS.’ JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT, KARANG AHAPE ROAD, AUCKLAND.

or some other optie defect, hesitated to use glasses, fearing the heavy frames and goggle glasses would prove a disfigurement. And years ago no doubt 'the average “pair of specs” was not by any means an adornment. But frames are now made so light and so elegant in design that even the most beautiful" women need not fear to wear them, for, indeed, they often impart an air of distinction. Mr Read uses the greatest care in the selection of his lenses, and grinds them all himself on the premises to suit individual patients. The importance of discovering if the eyes of the rising generation are perfect or not is one which parents cannot overrate. Some simple test may be made at home, and then, if the slightest trouble is detected, a visit should be made to Mr Read, who will at once give advice, free of charge, and reebmmend the remedy. It need hardly be remarked that Mr Read’s qualifications are of the highest, and as his profession is also, sb to say, liis hobby, there is no trouble too great for him to take to ensure as near an approach to perfection as possible in all his business. THE JEWELLERY AND PLATE DEPARTMENT. No less important branch of the business of the firm of Read Bros., and one for which their reputation stands second to none in Auckland, or, indeed, the colonies, is that of manufacturing jewellers. For the past 15 years the firm have carried on this branch to an ever-increas-ing business, which tells its own story of the appreciation of the publie. "When it is remembered that unmounted gems are admitted into the colony duty free, while the manufactured article from “Brummagem” has to pay 25 per cent., it will easily be seen that it must be enormously advantageous to purchase locally-manufaetured goods, always providing the quality is the same. And if those interested care to inspect ths workshops and to examine and compare the goods turned out therefrom with the imported article/'they will admit that Read Bros, need fear no comparison. In brooches, in rings, in bracelets and, in fact, in every branch of the jeweller’s art, beautiful work is turned out. You have only to give an idea of what you wish to spend and the firm will show you a wonderful assortment, or, if you want something exclusive, will make it for you, from the most moderate sum to any amount to which you may feel inclined to go. In plated ware, marble clocks ete., etc., the firm are their own importers, and there are therefore no middle profits for the warehousemen, a saving of a very considerable amount. The selection of goods shown, at their premises in Karangahape-road, is not to be excelled in the city for beauty and quality, and the utmost value for money is given—whether the purchase is a matter of a few shillings or runs into many pounds. As clockmakers and watchmakers the firm have a big reputation. and for repairs, both in these and in jewellery,, probably no house in the icily enjoyssb great a popularity. 7“ Courtesy .to every’ ■patron, with big or .littUt.purses, is ah-,. other feature of the firm, . which thoroughly deserves the success it is achieving, and is a credit to-'tlie’ city wherein it is established.