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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Artificial Eyes.It has been already stated that the presence of a foreign body, such as a particle of steel or stone in the eye, often endangers the sight of the other eye as well as of the one which has been injured. In such cases it is often advisable to remove the eye. There are also cases in which a cancer grows in the back part of the eye, without causing for a long time any unnatural appearances which can be seen from the outside. Under such circumstances, it is difficult for the friends as well as for the patient to understand the necessity for the removal of the eye ; but in every case the advice and opinion of the eye surgeon should be adopted. A neglect to have such an eye removed will usually result not only in a painful disease of the eye, but also in an extension of this disease to the brain, whereby death will be induced. After an eye has been removed, it is advisable to substitute for it an artificial eye, both for the cosmetic effect and for the protection of the parts beneath. Artificial eyes consist of a thin layer of enamel, colored so as to imitate the natural eye. These are made so as to be very light, smooth and unirritating ; they consist merely of a shell, which can be retained in position between the lids. In many cases the resemblance to the natural eye is so perfect that the artificial nature is not detected. The writer once heard a noted eye surgeon relate how he had dined at the same table for six months with a gentleman who wore an artificial eye, although the surgeon had never noticed the fact, nor even entertained any suspicion that such was the case. When informed that one of the gentleman's eyes was false, the surgeon was puzzled for a few moments to decide which was the artificial eye, so close was the resemblance. These are, however, exceptionally successful imitations. In many cases the artificial eye will not be recognized unless attention is directed to it ; but in other instances, attention is attracted by the fact that the artificial eye does not move as the other one does. The amount of motion depends upon how much of the eye has been removed. In those cases in which only the front of the eye is taken away by the operation, the part which remains - the stump - is freely movable, because the muscles whiph move the eyeball are retained and grow fast in the stump. The artificial eye lies upon the stump, and is moved with it. If, however, so much of the eye must be removed that the part remaining is too small to carry the glass eye, the latter is held in position by the lids, and remains motionless. This is also the case, of course, when the entire eye is removed. The advantages of an artificial eye are as follows: It conceals to a greater or less extent a deformity which is otherwise annoying to the patient and often distressing to the beholder ; it is of great service in maintaining the natural position and form of the lids ; it prevents the lashes from irritating the shrunken eye ; it serves as a defense against foreign bodies which are apt otherwise to get into the eye and produce irritation; it is also of great benefit in keeping the openings of the tear-ducts in proper position, so that the tears can be conducted away into the nostril. The disadvantage of artificial eyes consists in the irritation which may be caused by the glass. This is sometimes sufficient to induce a chronic state of inflammation, which renders the eye somewhat tender and causes a slight discharge of mucus. This can usually be avoided if eyes of the best manufacture be obtained, since the irritation is dependent usually upon the roughness of the edges of the eye, which is induced by the corrosive action of the secretions. When properly made of the best materials, the eye resists this corrosive action and remains smooth and unirritating for a very long time. Six or eight weeks should be permitted to elapse after the removal of the eye before an artificial eye is introduced. This interval is necessary in order to permit the wound to heal perfectly and all swelling and irritation to subside. If the eye be introduced too soon, there is apt to remain an irritation and discharge which proceeds from some part where the wound had not entirely healed, which is kept open by the eye. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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