Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]
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history of poor vision in one eye - the so-called 'lazy eye', since
this is suggestive. On following the above routine, the results on
the whole have been satisfactory, but in those few cases where
correction of an error of refraction and orthoptic treatment have failed
to cure a squint surgical treatment becomes essential.
An equally busy year was experienced at the Tottenham
Ophthalmic Clinic where many children with refractive errors and
squints were referred to the visiting consultant, Mr. T. Kletz. Of
a wide variety of other conditions two of outstanding clinical interest
were a case of buphthalmos (infantile glaucoma), and a case of
trachoma. Both these children received further investigation in
hospital; but, although the diagnosis of trachoma was confirmed
bacteriologically, a search for contacts proved unavailing. Happily,
the infection cleared up satisfactorily with treatment. Two pupils
were registered as partially-sighted during 1960; a case of congenital
nystagmus and another of congenital dislocation of the lenses.
In December, Mr. Kletz demonstrated a number of clinical
cases to the school medical officers in the Area, including cases of
"squint" and the orthoptic methods used. Such an occasion, both
enjoyable and instructive, encourages early detection of ophthalmic
defects which both consultants so rightly stress.
ORTHOPTIC CLINICS
Number of new cases | 88 | |
Number of cases treated:- | ||
Complete success | 62 | |
Improving | 47 | |
Failed | 7 | |
Left district before completion of treatment | 5 | |
Total number of children occluded:- | 121 | |
Complete success | 34 | |
Partial success | 4 | |
Still on treatment | 4 | |
Failed to improve | 5 | 47 |
Number of cases referred for surgery | 5 |