New England College of Optometry - Scope Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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SUNLIGHT AND Cl-IROMOTI-IERAPY IN EYE CARE By Dr. M. M. Spigel, O.D. Broad-Grace Al'CtlClt',, Riclz-nzond, l'irgin.ia NATURE DEMANDS PLENTY OF SUN- LIGHT Plenty of sunshine. winter and summer, is one of the most effective treatments for both body and eyes-and is the most available treatment for all classes and sections of hu- manity. The beneficial action of the sun depends on the ultra-violet ray, an invisible part of the sunlight, which upon striking the naked skin changes some of the ergosterol ta fatj beneath the skin into that much-need- ed substance-Vitamin D. A prolonged lack of sunlight causes light starvation in certain parts of the physical body and eyes and impairs the circulation of life forces through such parts. which results in diseased organs or possibly malignant growths. Practically everyone has observed that if plants are left in a room where no sunlight can penetrate they soon lose their color and show qualities of parasites. In like manner, a person who lives in a dark room and seldom comes out into the sunshine will become pale and will be subject to all kinds of bacillary infections. especially tuberculosis. In addi- tion, the eyes will appear dull and sluggish: the pupils will dilate. causing a sensitiveness to light Qphotophobiaj. and clark rings will appear underneath the eyes. Animals, through instinct. take sun baths. YVatch a cat or dog follow the sun streaming in through a window or stretch in the sun on the porch or in the yard. Chickens and birds 1nay often be seen lying on their sides, ruffling their feathers in the sun. Since ani- mals and fowls absorb most of the sun rays in their hair and feathers. little sun can reach the skin of the body proper, so it can be as- sumed that they receive in large part health benefits from the sun through their eyes. How often do we hear people complain that they are unable to sit in the sun because it hurts their eyes, or they must wear dark sunglasses to protect their eyes. If the eyes are sensitive to light or glare, it is due to a lack of sunshine Vitamin A. And this needed sunshine vitamin cannot be absorbed through tinted lenses or sun goggles. Tinted lenses will obstruct or neutralize the valuable sun rays, so essential to the eyes and general health, and will increase the eye's sensitive- ness to light. And it has been proven that neither tinted lenses nor sun glasses prevent glare. In fact, they increase the danger of night driving. Sun glasses are not advisable, as they tend to make the eyes more sensitive to light over a period of time and weaken their ability to adapt themselves naturally to various indoor and outdoor lighting condi- tions. Possible symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency and sunlight starvation are: l. Poor vision. 2. Eyes sensitive to light. 3. Poor vision in semi-darkness Qnight blindnessj. 4. Red and swollen eyelids. 5. Squinting. 6. Dryness of the eye membranes. In the retina at the back of the eye is a substance called visual purple. This pigment plays a very important part in the sharpness of the eyesight, especially in the ability to ad- just the eyes from a bright to a dim light. Vitamin A is one of the chief materials from which the body builds visual purple. A lack of sunshine and the failure to include suf- ficient Vitamin A in the diet slows down the regeneration of this substance that helps us to see in a dim light. Other causes, of course, could contribute. Under-corrected farsightedness Qhyperopiaj PAGE THREE

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2 NEW CALOBAR SUN GLASSES Give You lncreesed Verietv ol Styles ond Sizes The new F395 Calobar Sun Glass, featuring rocking zyl pads. . . the new relatively inexpensive F396 . . . round out the AO Calobar Line to give you a complete assortment of styles, sizes, colors, and price. And every AO Calobar Sun Glass provides the following advantages: SCIENTIFIC GLARE PROTECTION-Correct spectral transmission for reduction of excess light and annoying glare. ABSORPTION OF DANGEROUS RAYS-8limi- nating all but a negligible amount of ultraviolet and infrared. OPTICAL GRINDING AND POLISHING- 6 base lenses ground and polished to the highest ophthalmic standards. 1,w:.xa. in As P -Y as F395 , S I,-L ,, ft - 1 'tk - 2 ' t. -f '1wa:t-rf- ' NF' .fffikzfwllisifii f f ' i- ., . .... . 142, k 1 If sp- ' 1. . 1 .- 1 ' f 0' ,,,., ftfainp- 2 iff --'Cf ' j 'X V .. 'M ..,, . ' V, V .. - is -sm' -1 3 49 fb- , + l-amy. f 5 1'-, L- 2' S f' 'S 2 REMEMBER AO CALOBAR -FOR YOUR COMPLETE SUN GLASS NEEDS American Optical

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or over-corrected nearsightedness Qmyopiaj may also cause temporary sensitiveness to light, but in the majority of cases it is the per- son's wrong mental attitude towards light and its effects on the eyes, and wrong tendencies and practices of cutting out light from the eyes rather than cultivation of the ability to acclimate the eyes to light and sunshine. Sunshine is a natural neutralizer of disease and accumulated wastes in the body, and we should cultivate the habit of utilizing all pos- sible sunshine in both summer and winter months of the year. Sun energy is Cod- given life energy for regaining, maintaining and insuring permanent health. Any physi- cian will verify the fact that there is more sickness during winter than in summer. Research has shown that the sun's rays can kill bacteria and statistics have proven that in sunny weather there are fewer infectious diseases, such as influenza, than in dull weath- er. There are two elements in sunshine which possess antitoxic and healing properties: light and warmth. Too many of us tend to hibernate during the winter months. How many of us who, through necessity, must work long hours in air-conditioned or poorly ventilated and arti- ficially lighted buildings spend our leisure hours in outdoor activities? It is surprising from a health standpoint that an overwhelm- ing majority of people, particularly in the winter time, spend most leisure hours in- doors. Because the sunshine is free like air and, water we tend to take it for granted and overlook the importance of taking advantage of every sun ray possible. A most effective method of absorbing sun rays in both winter and summer is through the eyes. Almost everyone at some time dur- ing the day or week can sit in the sun with- out eyeglasses or sunglasses and absorb valu- able sunshine through the eyes. As an eye- sight specialist, from practical experience and research, I cannot emphasize too strongly that sunshine is not harmful to the eyes as too many people seem to believe. It is most PAGE FOUR beneficial to both eyes and general health. The sun is neither ultraviolet nor infra-red rays, as many misinformed individuals be- lieve, but is a combination of all the rays of the spectrum and is very essential to plant and animal life. The oculist or optometrist with a knowl- edge of color therapy anil nature therapy would never recommend tinted lenses or sun- glasses, since he would know that the human being is so sensitive to colors that they speed or slow his muscles, make him calm or dizzy, and distort his iudgment. Impressions on the brain are made through the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell, and of these the most varied sensations are conveyed through the eyes. Psychologists tell us that the degree of sensuous satisfaction is greatest through the organs of sight, and least in the sense of taste. Some of our strongest impres- sions are transmitted to the body and mind by means of color. Color is the greatest phenomenon in the world. If there were no sunshine color rays on our planet, there would be no life and we would not be able to read at all. Sh HX: Il? THE SCIENCE OF CHROMOTI-IERAPY AND COLOR ENERGY It has long been accepted that the sun is man's greatest health restorer, but now science has discovered adaptable means by which in- valuable Color-lights may be projected and transferred upon and into the human body and eyes. The editor of the journal of the Ameri- can Medical Association, Dr. Morris Fish- bein, has said: Perhaps the most striking trend in modern scientific investigations of the cause and cure of disease is the amount of attention being paid to the effects of light. That which modern science now calls Chromotherapy, or Color Therapeutics, has been recognized as an important factor in the healing profession throughout the civilized world of science and education. No health