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75
Ophthalmic Clinic.—Children under five years of age who
are found to be suffering from squint have been referred to the
Council Oculist for treatment either from the Infant Welfare
Centres or by the Health Visitors from their home visits. If a
squint is corrected by suitable glasses at an early age it is possible
to cure the squint and also to preserve the sight of the affected
eye. It is therefore of considerable importance that children
suffering from these defects should be treated before they reach
school age. It is difficult to make parents understand the importance
of this work, and only a few accept the treatment offered
them. The following are the figures for 1924 :—
(a) Number of children for whom spectacles were prescribed
and provided 28
(b) Number of children examined by Oculist for whom
spectacles were not prescribed 18
The Ministry of Health in a letter dated January, 1923, sanctioned
expenditure and the payment of grant for the examination
and treatment of the eyes of expectant and nursing mothers where
such treatment tended in the opinion of the Medical Officer of the
Centre to preserve the mother's health during pregnancy and
lactation.
Since the middle of the year a number of nursing mothers,
whose sight has become impaired, have been referred to the
Council Oculist for treatment from the Infant Welfare Centres.
The following are the figures for 1924 :—
(а) Number of mothers for whom spectacles were prescribed
and provided 13
(б) Number of mothers to whom prescriptions only
were given 3
(c) Number of mothers examined by Oculist for whom
spectacles were not prescribed 6
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—During the year 1923 arrangements
were made with the Metropolitan Asylums Board for the
reception at their St. Margaret's Hospital of cases of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum from the Ilford district, details of which were printed
in the Report for 1923.
No cases were treated at St. Margaret's Hospital during the
year.