Conical Eye
Conical Eye.
William Stevens, aged 25, at No. 20, Gracechurch Street, states that he had been for severalmonths at two different Ophthalmic Institutions, where many modes of treatment were adopted to improve his vision; but he was at length told they could do him no good, as the disease under which he laboured was conical eyes.
When I examined him, in May, 1840, I found the right eye so prominent that it had the appearance as if a large transparent bead had grown from the cornea. With this eye he could see a short distance. The conical state was not only greater in the left eye, but there was an opacity on the apex of the cornea. He could see nothing with it, if the right eye were shut, unless the objects of vision came in contact with his face. He continued to visit me, professionally, two or three times a week, for four months, and had a drop or two of castor oil put into both eyes each time. This treatment greatly diminished the prominency of the right eye, and lengthened the vision; but the left eye was only slightly benefited by it, although all opacity had been removed, and it had diminished in size.
In December last he again called upon me and wished to know if more could not be done for him? He said he had continued to follow his business with the use of concave glasses, but saw with great difficulty.
The vapour was employed thrice a week for about three weeks, when his vision was restored to its natural length. I saw him on the 21st of January, and he said he was perfectly well, and could follow his business with great pleasure to himself.