o/" vision hj Persons aired of Cataract. 207 



mention the imperfect vision of patients for a longer or 

 shorter period after the operation, and attribute it to au 

 original deficiency of the retina itself. None of them, 

 however, appear to me to attach sufficient in)portance to the 

 subject, except the late Mr. Saunders, whose opinions, as 

 expressed in a letter written a short time before his death, 

 correspond more exactly with mine than any others f 

 have seen. It is evident, from the powerful obstacles to 

 the acquisition* of U'^eful vision, tliat unless congenital 

 cataracts are removed durino: the earlie:>t periods of infancy, 

 the progress in the knowledge of visual objects must be 

 Very slow and tedious. This is indeed sometimes so much 

 ihe case, that I liave known instances where both the pa- 

 tient and his friends have despaired of ultimate succesf, 

 and have altocether ceased to make the necessary efforts, 

 •even after the patient had begun lo see objects with tole- 

 rable distinctness. Jl is by no means unconmion for the 

 friends of a congenital patient to expect that he should 

 obtain the power of perfect vision immedialeiy after the 

 operation, and even attribute their consequent disappuiut- 

 nient to its imperfect execution. Parcais ought therefore 

 to be fully apprized of all these attendant circumstances of 

 the complaint, and oi' the great necessity of a regular and 

 constant attention lo the future education of the patient; 

 and they should not be discouraged beca-jse iumiediale 

 success does not attend their most anxious efforts. From 

 an early period of my attendance at the London Eye In- 

 firmary, my mind has been deeply imi)ressed with the con- 

 viction, that much more than is generally supposed ncces- 

 snry, remained to be accomplished after the removal of the 

 disease; and every day's experience confirms me in this 

 opinion. Since an extensive practice has opened to nic <i 

 wider field for obici vation, I have directed a considerabk' 

 portion of my attention to the development of the various 

 causes which retard the patient's progress in acquiring a 

 knowledge of visual objectSj as well as to the best methods 

 of training, the eyes for its aitaiinncnt : and 1 am conviticcd 

 that if prcper plans, which must vary according to the c.\- 



• " To turn the faculty of 6i,?ht to use, so as to displav precise notions of 

 olijccts, dc-inauus experience, vvliich ca.i unly be given l>y tlic exercise ut 

 vision with roiijiderablc attenilyn for a lonj; time. 'I'ho operation lias uJ 

 power to conler ;icttial knowledpe of ol)ject«. It only prep:iri.» the eye for 

 receiving, and aflerwarda ilie intellect must be employed on the ol)jects tn) 

 received, before any readiness c;in be acfiuircd. 'I'hc child therefore niuit 

 l>e tlie ol)jctt of the parent's attention, and be rejjuhirly and dilijfently ix- 

 erciiicd about lar^e ol>jccts at fir.,t, and l>e t;.ug-lit to know thetn ; then wild 

 •mailer, and to on bv dcijreej."— Vide SaunJeiVs PosJiumoun W'oritt, 



pacity 



