CHAP. VI. Of Lagophthalmus, or the Hare eye.
SUch as have their eie-lids too short, sleep with their eyes open, for that they cannot be covered by the too short skin of the eye-lids: the Greekes terme this affect, Lagophthalmos. The cause is either * 1.1 internall or externall: internall, as by a Carbuncle, Impostume, or Ulcer: externall, as by a wound made by a sword, burn, fall, & the like. If this mishap proceed by reason of a cicatrization, it is cureable, if so that the short eye-lid be of an indifferent thicknesse. But if it have bin from the first conformation, or by some other meanes, whereby much of the sub∣stance is lost, as that which happens by burning and a carbuncle, then it is uncu∣reable. For the cure, you shall use relaxing and emollient fomentations, then the skinne shall be divided above the whole scarre, in figure of an halfe moon, with the * 1.2 hornes looking downewards. Then the edges of the incision shall bee opened, and lint put into the middle therof, that so it may hinder the lips from joyning together againe. Then shall you apply a plaster upon the lint, and so bind up the part with a fitting ligature that may somewhat presse upon the whole eye, lest it should lift it selfe somewhat upwards againe, and so returne into its ancient, but not naturall fi∣gure. But in cutting the skinne, you must take care that your incision harme not the gristle; for if it be cut, the eie-lid falls downe, neither can it be afterwards lifted up. But now for the lower eye-lid: it is subject to sundry diseases, amongst which there is one which answereth in proportion to that, which we late mentioned, which is, when as it is lifted upwards little or nothing, but hangs and gapes, and cannot bee joyned with the upper, and therefore it doth not cover the eye, which affect is fami∣liar * 1.3 to old people; it is called Ectropion, and it may be helped by the means former∣ly delivered.