Personal hygiene and physical training for women

by Anna M. Galbraith

In simple astigmatism, on looking at the accompanying astigmatic chart with each eye separately, certain lines in the defective meridian seem very much blurred, while those at exact right angles appear clear and black. This furnishes a test for astigmatism, since to the normal eye the lines appear of equal distinctness and clearness. Astigmatism is a very common ocular defect.

The Mechanism of Eye-strain.—Comparatively few eyes are perfect. Far-sighted or astigmatic eyes can secure perfect vision by means of accommodation. By constant strain on the ciliary muscle, the crystalline lens is so increased in curvature as to exactly counterbalance the optical defect of the eyes.

Healthy eyes should do their work without the consciousness of the owner, and this is a safe test as to the kind and amount of work demanded of them.

Perfect rest for the eyes is impossible in the waking state—distant vision represents rest for the eyes and near vision exertion.

Near work is the chief cause of near-sightedness. Distant vision should alternate with near work, and in near work the object should not be brought nearer to the eyes than 12 inches.

The Local Symptoms of Eye-strain.—There may be a sense of fatigue in the eyes after reading for a short time, and this may be followed by a constant sense of discomfort in the eyes, which is increased on using them, and which may be accompanied by severe pain in the back of the head. There is a sensitiveness to light, and inflammation of the eyelids and conjunctiva. There may be twitching of the eyelids, and in extreme cases difficulty in keeping the eyes open on account of drowsiness. The eyes may smart, itch, or burn, and continually “water.”

As the trouble becomes more pronounced, reading for a short time may be followed by a blurring of the type, and finally the lines may run together. There is a constant sense of the eyes feeling for the lines, and, perhaps one of the first things to call attention to the condition of the eyes may be the losing of the lines in reading.

The general or reflex symptom of eye-strain is headache, which frequently takes the form of migraine. This is increased on reading, sewing, riding in the cars, etc. The headache is usually over the region of the temples or just above the eyes, but it may be on the top of the head or at the base of the skull.

Vision is so fundamentally related to all the brain functions that eye-strain, or anything which interferes with normal sight, may cause the most varied disturbances of bodily functions.

The Prevention of Eye-strain.—Persons whose work necessitates much ocular labor should vary their duties with intervals of rest. In continued reading or sewing it is well to desist at short intervals and fix the gaze on some distant object, and to frequently close the lids.