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Eleven other cases were treated by private arrangement of the parents, and spectacles were
obtained in all cases.
A total of 148 external eye defects were treated at the School Clinics during the year.
These were chiefly conjunctivitis, blepharitis, with some phlyctenular ulcers and suppurating
conditions of the lids.
In the early part of the year the Hospital Saving Association offered an arrangement
whereby the Association would be responsible for a portion of the cost of spectacles prescribed
for members' children. Anything that would be an aid in obtaining the treatment prescribed for
any of our school children is always welcomed, and since May we have been able to accept
Hospital Saving Association vouchers in connection with the supply of spectacles, and for the
change of lenses when such is due to a variation in a child's vision. The repair of spectacles is

I am indebted to Dr. Roberts, who is in charge of the Refraction Clinic, for the following
report:—
VISION AND THE REFRACTION CLINIC.
For many years there has been a steady annual increase in the work done at the Refraction
Clinic and the figures for 1933 show that this increase is still maintained.
It has been necessary to supplement the usual two Clinics weekly by a third whenever the
waiting list has been unduly long.
Two thousand, two hundred and eleven appointments were made and the attendances
numbered 2,090, giving a percentage attendance of 95 for the whole year. This is not only a
higher number of appointments than in any previous year but is also a record attendance figure.
This attendance gives cause for real satisfaction as it shows that the constant and patient work of
educating parents in the importance of conserving children's vision is bearing a rich harvest.
The attendance figures for the past four years have been consistently good and give a percentage
for four years of 93.75.
1930—1,578 appointments with 93% attendance.
1931-1,785 „ „ 93%
1932—1,944 „ „ 94%
1933-2,211 „ „ 95%
Refractions.
Five hundred and eighty-one children were submitted to refraction compared with 537 in
1932.
Spectacles were prescribed in 569 cases and 559 of these received spectacles by the end of
the year.
It will be noticed that the attendance figure of 2,211 is large compared with the number of
refractions, viz:—581. Normally, each child for whom spectacles are prescribed attends three
times, once for the preliminary examination and to receive the atropine, once for refraction and
lastly to be examined wearing the spectacles prescribed. The remaining appointments are due to
the following-up of children by re-examination.
The parent of every child receiving spectacles is notified in a year's time that the child
should be re-examined in order to see if the spectacles are still suitable. A consent form for this
re-examination is enclosed and many parents avail themselves of this opportunity. In a number
of cases refraction is unnecessary.
Special cases such as progressive myopes are seen at shorter intervals such as 6 or 3 months,
and children receiving special instructions for squint or allied conditions may be seen at monthly
intervals.
This re-examination of children adds considerably to the work of the Clinic but is absolutely
necessary if permanent benefit to vision is to be obtained. It is to be regreted that lack of time
prevents the further following-up of those children whose parents ignore the re-examination
notice.
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