That the vision is more natural and perfect when both eyes are employed
than when one glass only is used, must be self-evident, as the axis of
each glass, placed as they should be in the spectacles, coincides with
the axis of each eye, and the rays of light are thus equally refracted
to the eye. Again, the eyes have a most acute and sensitive sympathy
with each other, and when a single eye-glass is constantly used they
are unnaturally exercised, and prevented from acting in concert. One
eye (generally the right eye) has the glass perpetually applied to
it; and very frequently, in consequence of this pernicious practice,
becomes of a different focus to the other. Mr. George Adams informs us
that he did not recollect an instance of a short-sighted person who had
occasion to increase the focus of his concaves if he began by wearing
spectacles, but that the cases were frequent, where a single eye-glass
had been used, in which the persons had frequently required a change of
glasses.
The prices of spectacles are diversified and fluctuating, like all
other manufactures, so that to publish a list of prices would only tend
to mislead and deceive my readers. For instance, the price of a pair
of pebbles, used formerly to be one guinea extra to the charge for
glasses; they are now reduced to half that sum. A pair of pebbles, of
the concave or of the periscopic figure, were at the same time charged
twenty-five shillings. These have been reduced in the same proportion.
And it cannot be too universally known, that a person can have a pair
of good convex glasses fitted into his spectacles, and correctly suited
to his sight, at from one shilling and sixpence to two shillings
per pair, by any respectable optician. The poorest person may be
defended against the tender mercies of the spectacle speculators; for
he really can obtain a better article for his money, both in quality
and suitableness to his sight, of the respectable optician, and, upon
an average, at _a less cost_ than the cheat contrives, by dint of
manœuvring, to extract from him. Good lenses, in plain frames, or, in
other words, a good pair of spectacles, may be had, correctly suited
to the sight, for two shillings and sixpence. Who then, knowing this,
would suffer his sight to be tampered with? Truly, those who would
stickle for a shilling in the price of such valuable and essential
instruments
“Deserve not the comfort they shed o’er the soul.”
Yet, at the same time, there is no reason why those exorbitant charges
should be submitted to, which are often paid without hesitation by the
delighted purchaser, when a pair of spectacles appears to suit his
sight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account