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Included in the above table are eighteen children whose
degree of myopia was found to be greater than minus four
dioptres. Where necessary, instructions were sent to the head
teachers of the schools which these children attended, modifying
the curriculum with a view to preventing the condition
becoming more marked. Similar advice was also given to the
parents. Children suffering from myopia are re-examined at
the clinic on an average twice a year.
In the case of children with high myopia, arrangements
are made for them to attend a myope or sight-saving school
when the degree of short sight is found to be increasing.
One such child was admitted to a myope school during 1938.
Two children suffering from squint were referred from the
Refraction Clinic to hospital for orthoptic treatment. Doyne's
shields were prescribed for six children suffering from squint.
Little difficulty is experienced in getting parents to
provide the necessary spectacles for their children. In a few
cases the co-operation of the N.S.P.C.C. was obtained with
satisfactory results. Where parents are unable to afford the
cost of spectacles these are supplied free after full particulars
of the financial circumstances have been considered by the
Committee. A revised price list was obtained from the dispensing
opticians during the early part of the year. This
showed a diminution in the cost of all the kinds of spectacles
prescribed at the Clinic and represented an appreciable reduction
in the contract price which the parents are required to pay.
One hundred and three children with external eye disease
received treatment at the Minor Ailment Clinic at the Health
Centre. A few of the more serious cases were referred to the
oculist at the Refraction Clinic.
The Education Committee have an arrangement with the
Nelson Hospital whereby school children suffering from eye
disease are admitted for in-patient treatment at a cost of
three shillings per day.
No child of school age was referred for treatment under
this arrangement in 1938.
(e) Nose and Throat Defects. One child was operated
on for enlarged tonsils, one for adenoids, and seventy-seven
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