Pliny Natural History, Vol. VI (Loeb Latin-English)

The difficulty of identifying ancient descriptions of disease returns when we examine complaints of the eyes. These were very common, as dust was everywhere and hygienic rules for its control were unknown. Moreover, there were no mechanical aids, such as spectacles. Pliny mentions aegilops, albugo, argema, caligo, epinyctis, epiphora, glaucoma, hypochysis, inflammatio (inflammation), lippitudo, nubeculae, nyctalops, prurigo, pterygium, scabritia, suffusio, as well as other disorders, whether nervous or functional. Some of these names, which emphasize a prominent symptom common to more than one eye trouble, cannot be safely assigned to any particular modern disease, but a few identifications are fairly certain.

Aegilops.—This was a lacrimal fistula at the inner corner of the eye near the nose.

Albugo.—Occurring only in Pliny, this meant a white ulcer; its specific type is uncertain. Albugines could also occur on the head (XXVI. § 160).

Argema.—A small white ulcer occurring partly on the cornea and partly on the white of the eye (sclera).

Caligo.—Any dimness of vision, particularly that caused by inflammation of the eye (ophthalmia).

Epinyctis.—A sore on the eyelid. See p. viii.

Epiphora.—Any excessive watering or discharge from the eye.

Glaucoma.—An opaqueness of the crystalline lens of the eye.

Hypochysis.—Cataract.

Lippitudo.—Ophthalmia, or inflammation of the eye.

Nubecula.—A cloudy film over the eye, perhaps sometimes a form of cataract.

Nyctalops.—One who is afflicted with night blindness.