^ Mr. Ware's Observations on the near 



in succession, until at length it will be difficult to obtain a glass 

 sufficiently concave to afford the assistance that the eye 

 requires.* 



Although near sightedness is in general gradual in its pro- 

 gress, instances occasionally occur of its existence, in a con- 

 siderable degree, even in children ; in whom it is sometimes 

 discovered almost as soon as they begin to take notice of the 

 objects around them. This may be occasioned by some de- 

 gree of opacity in the transparent parts of the eye ; but such 

 a cause of near sightedness is easily discovered by an exami- 

 nation, and is quite different from that state of the eye to which 

 the term myopia, or near sightedness, is usually applied ; by 

 which is simply meant, too great a convexity either in the 

 cornea or in the crystalline, in proportion to the distance of 

 these parts from the retina. In such cases of extreme near 

 sightedness in children, it is sometimes necessary to deviate 

 from a rule, which in slighter cases I always follow, of dis- 

 couraging the use of spectacles ; since without their assistance, 

 it would be impossible for them to prosecute their learning 

 with ease or convenience. 



Extreme near sightedness is sometimes occasioned by an 

 evident change in the spherical figure of the cornea, and its 

 assumption of a conical shape. This morbid state of the cor- 

 nea is not only productive of near sightedness, but when the 



• I have observed, that most of the near sighted persons, with whom I have had an 

 opportunity of conversing, have had the right eye more near sighted than the left ; 

 and I think it not improbable, that this difference between the two eyes has been oc- 

 casioned by the habit of using a single concave hand-glass ; which, being most com- 

 monly applied to the right eye, contributes, agreeably to the remark abovementioncd,^ 

 to render this eye more near sighted than the other. 



