Eye diseases dependent upon suppression of menses / by Read J. McKay.

  • McKay, Read J.
Date:
[1882]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Eye diseases dependent upon suppression of menses / by Read J. McKay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    I now desire to present for consideration some clinical histories and practical remarks upon cases of eye diseases dependent upon abnormal menstruation, which have been under my care during the past nine years. As they are not very numerous I venture to report them fully, so that they may be studied critically. They only include cases of eye diseases caused or complicated by suppression of menses. Case I.—Fannie R., aged 22 years, single, domestic, United States, first came under my care at out-door department of Bellevue Hospital, New York City, June 30, 1873. She had had double-sight at intervals for two weeks past, and could not read or sew. She suffered with supra-orbital neural- gia. Two years previously she had suppression of menses. Since then her menses have been irregular, and the flow diminished in quantity. Vision of R. E. = °f L. E. and she could see small type ten inches. She was slightly myopic, but did not require glasses. Her pupils acted sluggishly under light. Ophthalmoscopic examination manifested appearances of well-marked neuro-retinitis. Free catharsis and bleeding of temples promptly improved her vision somewhat, and tonics her gen- eral health, when her menses became regular and she could again use her eyes. This improvement continued for several months, until suppression again occurred from getting her feet wet during “ the flow,” and again her eyes could not be used as desired. Several months later her menses again appeared and her eyes regained their normal condition. In March, 1875, she reported she had had a recurrence of partial suppression and eye troubles. In October, 187G, reported menses regular without any eye trouble, and her general health good, which continued a year later, the last report made to me. Case II Elizabeth H., German, aged 19 years, single, domestic, had been in United States over three years, came to “ Bellevue Out-door Dept.” July 6, 1874, for treatment for her eyes. At 14 years of age first had her menses, and not again until she was 18 years old, and the last time six or seven months previously. Eight days ago she began to have severe headaches, which prevented her sleeping well for several nights. She reported that when her headache was severe she had intense dread of light, but none without the pain in her head. Her near vision was good. Oph- thalmoscopic examination revealed optic neuritis and retinal hyperaemia, which was more marked two days later, when she manifested symptoms of brain and spinal cord disease, and was sent to the hospital, passing from under observation. Case III Lucy J., aged 15, resident in New Jersey, came to the clinic at “ Bellevue Out-door Dept.” August 19, 1874, for dimness of her eyesight. She was very tall and large for her age. When five years old she had had a severe attack of external inflammation of her eyes (proba- bly phlyctenular conjunctivitis). She lias not been sick otherwise, ex- cepting a weakness of her back, which began at 12 years of age. It was worse at time of menstruation, which began at 14 years of age, and she reported she had always been regular. About a year ago, when her menses first appeared, her eyesight began to grow dim, and has gradually grown worse. Six months ago frequent attacks of severe headache commenced, which lasted from half an hour to one hour. She had recently been treated at an eye infirmary by hypodermic injections of strychnia without beneficial effect. The vision of her R. E = fingers ten feet, and read Sn. X — 4 to G, L. E. V. = f§, and read Sn. No. III. Ophthalmoscopic