[EYE AND EAR 355]
Course.—It usually appears between the third week and the sixth month after the original injury. "The extreme limits are two weeks and twenty years." The sound eye is likely to be attacked when the exciting eye is in a state of active inflammation.
Treatment.—The "exciting eye" should be enucleated (taken out) before any signs of sympathetic inflammation appears in the healthy eye. If it has appeared, enucleation will be of no value; at all events if there is vision in the exciting eye, the operation should not be done then.
INFLAMMATION OF THE RETINA FROM BRIGHT'S DISEASE (Albuminuric Retinitis).—The retina is a very delicate structure and we are often able to diagnose Bright's disease from the peculiar effect it produces upon the retina.
Causes.—The cause is usually Bright's disease, (nephritis) and usually the chronic Interstitial variety. Pregnancy causes it sometimes. Interference of the vision, sight, is what the patient complains of. This may be very slight, when you consider the great changes occurring in the retina. Such patients are subject to attacks of temporary blindness of uremic origin. The vessels of the retina are swollen and tortuous. Bleeding and shining white patches are scattered through the back part of the eye and a peculiar arrangement of glistening white dots around the yellow spot. This disease shows itself late in Bright's disease and the patient is not likely to live more than two years after the appearance of this eye lesion.
Treatment.—It sometimes occurs during pregnancy. Then the question of inducing premature labor arises. There is no local treatment that can be of any use when it is caused by Bright's disease.
FITTING GLASSES.—This is done by lenses and prisms, etc.
Lens.—A lens is made of glass and prisms graded in strength, one surface curved, and has the power of refracting or changing the direction of the rays of light. A prism is wedge-shaped and bends rays of light towards its base. A great many people are troubled with their eyes, much more than years ago. We even see little children wearing glasses. It is unfortunate, but true, that even more children and grown people should wear them. Fitting glasses is an art in itself. It takes more ability to fit glasses well than it does to operate well. Poorly-fitted glasses are not only annoying to the wearer, but dangerous. Glasses rest the eyes, not tire them. When the eyes water and feel tired or strained, even after using them but little, glasses are needed. Headaches are frequently caused by the eye strain. When glasses are needed it does not pay to put off getting them and the person needing them should go to one competent to properly fit them. A great many eyes are hard to fit, and they need not only ability to fit them well, but time and attention must be given to fitting them properly.
[356 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
SQUINT OR STRABISMUS.—Both lines of sight are not directed towards the same object of fixation.