Case of a lady born blind, who received sight at an advanced age by the formation of an artificial pupil ... / [James Wardrop].

  • Wardrop, James, 1782-1869.
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of a lady born blind, who received sight at an advanced age by the formation of an artificial pupil ... / [James Wardrop]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    knew the direction from whence the light emanated. With regard therefore to the degree of sight, this lady was more completely blind than the boy in the celebrated case related by Mr. Cheselden, in the 35th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society; for in that instance the boy knew black, white, and scarlet apart from one another; and when in a good light he had that degree of sight, which generally continues in an eye affected with cataract; whereas in this lady, the pupil being completely shut up, no light could reach the retina, except such rays as could pass through the sub- stance of the iris. When she was placed under my care she had reached her 46th year. The right eye-ball was collapsed, but the left retained its natural globular form. The cornea of this eye was transparent, except at one point near its circumference, where there was a linear opacity, which had probably been the cicatrix of the wound made during the operation in her infancy. The anterior chamber of the eye was of its natural capacity, but I.could not distinguish any vestige of a pupil, some streaks of yellow lymph being deposited in an irregular manner over the central part of the iris. There was every reason to believe that the retina was sound ; for though she could not perceive objects, nor had any notion of colours, yet the circumstance already mentioned of her being able to dis- tinguish between a very light and a very dark chamber, and between a gloomy day and sunshine, rendered it probable that the nerve was in a sound and natural state. Under this impression, I thought that the restoration of her sight by making an artificial pupil was practicable, and certainly well worthy of a trial. Accordingly, on the 26th of January, I