Artifact of the Month: Eyecups
These former mystery objects spent several months jockeying for position in the Artifact of the Month poll and finally made it on display! So, what is an eye wash cup? An eyecup is a vessel that allows a person to quickly and easily flush out their eye when it’s irritated or dry. Eye cups fell out of favor with the advent of eye drops, but they are still used today–even after hundreds of years!
Eyewash cups are highly collectible due to their small size and unique appeal. They come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and materials. Silver cups were used in Europe in the 16th century but with the advent of glass in the 18th century, it became the most accessible and popular option.
Some eye wash cups came attached to a bottle of solution. Wyeth brand Collyrium was perhaps the most well-known, and some folks today may remember using it. What is collyrium? It is a Greek word dating back to Hippocratic medical books from 2,000 years ago, meaning “eye-salve.”
Historic or modern, most eye wash solutions are comprised mostly of water and are the same neutral pH as natural tears. Boric acid is present in some modern eye washes but was historically used on its own, either at full strength or mixed with water.
We had fun learning about this interesting piece of medical history! You never know what you’ll find in Turtle Bay’s Permanent Collection!
