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In Tottenham Mr. E. Hambly comments enthusiastically on the
full attendances at the Lordship Lane Clinic, being particularly
impressed by the frequency with which parents, and often both parents,
accompanied their children. This, he feels, reflects a very high
standard of living in the borough and the keen interest of both parents
in their children's medical welfare.
Ophthalmic Clinics
As in previous years, the correction of errors of refraction
and the diagnosis and treatment of a convergent squint comprised the
bulk of the work undertaken by Dr. R. Welch, the visiting consultant
to the Hornsey Eye Clinic. In his experience, the commonest error
of refraction found in Infants' schools is 'long-sightedness' and, if this
is of only moderate severity, when combined with astigmatism, it
invariably requires correction with glasses which must be worn constantly.
Moreover, the child's general health and progress at school
may show remarkable improvement following the correction of a
refractive error previously unsuspected. In the secondary school
age group 'short-sightedness' is the predominating defect and such
cases require regular refraction since the condition tends to increase
during the years of growth.
In the treatment of convergent squint, a new advance has been
the use of eye drops causing contraction of the pupil. This has
resulted in dramatic improvement in carefully selected cases since,
with contracted pupils, the habit of over-convergence for near objects
is broken. Needless to say, such children require constant supervision
by the consultant and, whilst treatment may sometimes be an
alternative to surgery, it is usually complementary.
Similar eye defects have been the chief concern of Mr. T. Kletz,
the consultant at the Tottenham Ophthalmic Clinic. An indication of
the value of early investigation in cases of manifest or suspected
squint is reflected, he feels, in the statistics of the orthoptic department
where the number of cases treated is now less than the number
of new cases referred.
With recent advances in treatment and Investigation of certain
types of squint and amblyopia, a number of cases previously considered
incurable are now being treated by special techniques. At present,
such cases have to be sent to hospital for both investigation and
treatment, but in the new year it is hoped to purchase the necessary
equipment to enable these techniques to be practised in the clinic.
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