RE: [lace] Lace legends?

Hi Lyn, Cataracts can even occur in babies and small children (not frequently, thank God), not just later in life. Happy lace making, Joepie. From: lynrbai...@supernet.com Dear Elise, What you say makes sense. I have often wondered, and I was voting for

Re: [lace] Lace legends?

Dear Elise, What you say makes sense. I have often wondered, and I was voting for cataracts, but then I realized that happens quite late in life. I am truly impressed by the expertise that various members of Arachne bring to the discussion. In our own way, we are a powerhouse of passion for

Re: [lace] Lace legends?

Hi Devon, Well, this may be hubris on my part, but I partially disagree with your ophthalmologist. He says "You cannot damage your eyes by using your eyes." Actually, one gradually looses one's ability to focus at distance if one primarily uses one's eyes for close work. In modern times this has

Re: [lace] Lace legends?

I agree Devon, the theory of blindness from making lace has never made sense to me. However, I disagree that syphilis was the usual culprit since the stages of primary, secondary, and tertiary syphilis were well known and recognized. Had these women been blinded by syphilis, I don’t think the

Re: [lace] Lace legends?

The theory that you lose your eyesight from making lace is a persistent one. I once consulted my ophthalmologist about this, fearing for my own eyesight, and he said, "You cannot damage your eyes by using your eyes." One theory about blindness among lacemakers is that, living in port towns as

re: [lace] Lace legends?

Because I get the digest form I can't respond directly, so must copy and paste. Liz R wondered about a village in France where the old lacemakers had all lost their eyesight - fact or fiction?. I'm just now re-reading "Take the Children," and loss of eyesight due to poor light and general poor