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Opthalmic Clinics
Dr. R. Welch, consulting ophthalmologist at the Hornsey
Opthalmic Clinic, reports:-
"During the year 1963 attendances at Hornsey Eye Clinic have
continued to be very good. The patients examined ranged from infants
to adolescents of school leaving age.
The commonest symptoms complained of were defective vision
and headaches or eyes aching after close work. A less common
symptom was diplopia. On examination most of these cases were
found to have errors of refraction or ocular muscle imbalance. In
a few cases symptoms were functional and attributable to an anxiety
state. A very important group of cases were referred to the clinic
on account of convergent squints, constant or intermittent. Fortunately
these are being recognised at an early stage when treatment can be
most effective. They are refracted under atropine to ensure complete
relaxation of accommodation. As these cases almost invariably have
hypermetropia (long sight) with or without astigmatism, glasses are
prescribed for constant wear. Subsequent treatment, where there is
uni-ocular amblyopia, is carried out under the supervision of the
orthoptist and consists of occlusion of the fixing eye for a variable
period followed by orthoptic training to restore and strengthen binocular
vision. If this treatment fails to cure the squint surgical treatment
is indicated. Apropos the need for early detection of squint, some
cases rightly referred to the clinic as they present the appearance
of a convergent squint, are in reality cases of pseudo-squint caused
by epicanthic folds of skin covering the inner canthus of the eye.
It is sometimes difficult to exclude the possibility of a real convergent
strabismus in a few. of these cases.
It is now the practice of refracting many of the older children
suspected of myopia without using a mydriatic. This obviates the
need for a second visit to the clinic and causes the minimum of
interruption of their school work.
Minor eye complaints treated during the year were cases of
acute conjunctivitis, blepharitis and dacryocystitis".
Dr. Teviot G. Kletz, consulting ophthalmologist at Lordship
Lane Clinic reports that, as in previous years, most of his work was
concerned with refractions and the treatment of squints.
1258 new cases were seen, of whom 93 were under five years
of age.There were 165 cases (of whom 79 were new) treated in
the Orthoptic Department. 75 cases were recorded as "complete
success'' after treatment. There were no Blind registrations during
the year. Dr. Kletz comments also that the number of children
attending the clinic on their own is a matter for concern.
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