The eye on my 19 inch Phillips Mag TV does not receive the signal from
the remote unless I am right up next to the tv with the remote.
The remote works fine with my other phillips mag tv
Charles Pisano

Did it ever work properly on the 19"?
Have you twiddled the batteries around to make better contact?
Have you cleaned the battery contacts with an eraser?
Have you put brand new batteries in the remote?

can I clean [the eye] somehow?

Have you cleaned the bezel (lens) on the remote?
Definately clean the bezel over the eye on the TV.
If possible, clean the back side of each.
Was the equipment in an environment with (tobacco) smoke?