SAVE THE CHILDREN'S EYES

With this issue of "Better Eyesight" we are again urging measures to
prevent and cure imperfect sight in school children. A very simple
method by which this can be done was discovered by the editor while
studying the vision of the school children of Grand Forks, N. D., and
tested over a period of eight years in the schools of this city. It
consists merely, as has been frequently stated in this magazine, of
exposing a Snellen test card in each classroom, and having the
children read the lowest line they can see from their seats once a
day, or oftener.

Six or seven years ago this system was tried in some of the public
schools of New York City with the most gratifying results. In every
case in which the card was used properly the vision of the children
improved, regardless of whether the classroom was well or poorly
lighted; and in every case in which it was not used the vision
declined, being worse at the end of the year than it was at the
beginning, regardless also of the lighting of the room. Not only was
myopia (shortsight) prevented and cured by this method, but
hypermetropia (farsight), a much greater curse than myopia and one the
prevention of which had not previously been seriously considered, was
also prevented and cured. So also was astigmatism, while the sight of
those children whose sight had been normal to begin with was improved.
Headaches and fatigue were relieved. The mentality of the children
improved. Truants and incorrigibles were reformed. The teachers were
enthusiastic about the results. So also were the children.

But unfortunately the method was contrary to the teachings of a
hundred years, and hence was condemned without trial by every eye
specialist consulted by the Board of Education. And thus the children,
not only of New York, but of the whole country, have been deprived for
years of the blessing of perfect sight, for if New York had led the
way, the whole country would have followed.

Through the efforts of this magazine, however, a few schools here and
there have introduced the system, and we hope that before another year
has elapsed there will be many more of them. An interesting report
from one of these schools appears on page 14.

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School Number
Better Eyesight
A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect
sight without glasses
Copyright, 1920, by the Central Fixation Publishing Company
Editor—W. H. Bates, M.D.
Publisher—Central Fixation Publishing Co.
$2.00 per year, 20 cents per copy
342 West 42nd Street, New York, N. Y.
Vol. III - August, 1920 - No. 2
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