Glass Eyecup | Eye Bath Collection

02 November 2013

After almost 1,300 posts here on Peach Ridge Glass, I have to say, this is the first post on eye cups and eye bath glass. Sure I knew they were around but I rarely crossed paths with examples or collectors. I know they are out there, just do no know where to look as far as a collecting web site, group or individual collector. The following e-mail prompted this post. Please contact me if you have any interest in pursuing this collection.

My late Father was a member of your organization (the FOHBC) which is where I got your e-mail. He had a bottle collection of course but also had other collections including a large eyecup collection (examples pictured below) which I am trying to sell to other collectors (not dealers). Do you know of any within your organization or how I might get connected with some?  I have many many more.  That is just a drop in the bucket. 

Thanks, George

Dr. Richard Cannon says that glass eye cups or eye baths date back into the 19th century in the United States, and aluminum examples appeared early in the 20th century. Through the years there have been several devices used to install liquid eye medicines into the eyes for irrigation or treatment, but for use by the patient, the eye cup or eye bath were most popular until eye drops were developed using a screw-capped top provided with a plastic collar and a rubber unit carrying a glass dropper and a rubber teat. To use the eye cup, the patient applied it to the eye with the head bowed forward, threw the head back with the eye open, ensured lavage of the eye by blinking several times and then removed the cup with the head once more bowed forward.