Reflex neuroses arising from ocular and nasal abnormalities : oration in ophthalmology / by S. Lewis Ziegler.

  • Ziegler, S. Lewis (Samuel Lewis), 1861-1926.
Date:
[1908]
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Reflex neuroses arising from ocular and nasal abnormalities : oration in ophthalmology / by S. Lewis Ziegler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    may excite nausea and vomiting. The wearing of prisms, muscular gymnastics, and the use of too strong lenses may set up a similar condition. It is easy to demonstrate this to one's'own satisfaction by wearmg such lenses for a short time. Per contra, when some high refractive error has been properly corrected, the accidental removal of the correcting glasses will often precipitate a recurrence of the gastric disturbance. Case XII.—A neurotic female had worn high correcting prisms for a double muscular error (hyperexophoria) for many years. If glasses were broken she had to go to bed, and in a short time suffered from profound sick headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Instead of submit- ting to a proper tenotomy for restoration of the muscle balance, she now carries several pairs of glasses with her as reinforcements in case of accident. Dizziness, or gastric vertigo, is probably the only symptom that would naturally suggest the necessity for an ocular examination to the ordinary prac- titioner; and yet, as Musser says, there are many other symptoms, such as bilious attacks, periodical vomiting, anorexia, and indigestion, that may be re- lieved by a careful test of the eyes. Alger* has re- cently reported a case of severe abdominal pain in which low grade plus cylindrical glasses gave prompt and lasting relief. Two surgeons had made a diagnosis of either gallstones or appendicular in- flammation, but fortunately for the patient the con- dition was correctly diagnosed by Morris as a re- flex neurosis due to eyestrain. Refraction under complete cycloplegia and the wearing of the proper glasses quickly relieved the gastric sufifering. The number of such cases now being placed on record should make us pause, reflect, and give the oculist the benefit of the doubt, before inflicting lavage or exploratory incision upon suffering humanity. *.\'ew York Medical Journal, June 8, igo/-