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147
very successful, and have been copied in many parts of the world. The aim is to
tide the children over the dangerous period of early life and to discourage them
from close work with their eyes. Should vision fail, despite these precautions, the
children may be transferred for training with the blind.
Senile conditions.—Insufficient is known as to the primary causes of these
conditions to allow of their being included in the category of preventable disease.
The greatest danger is the insidious nature of their onset which leads to delayed
application for treatment.
Facilities for the treatment of diseases and injuries to the eyes.—London is peculiarly
well equipped in this connection. There are five large special ophthalmic
hospitals as well as organised ophthalmic departments in all the large general and
and children's hospitals. For purposes of refractions and for the treatment of minor
ailments of the surface of the eye and the eyelids the Council has arranged for
treatment centres. Special arrangements exist for the provision of glasses for children
through the care committee organisation. In the case of adults who attend
hospitals, there are, in most, if not all hospitals, arrangements whereby certain
firms of opticians supply the glasses prescribed at reduced rates and assistance
is given from time to time through various funds administered by the hospital
almoners and others.
The facilities for the prevention of blindness already in operation in the County
of London, fulfil practically all the arrangements which would be likely to be
available in any area in which a local authority adopted Section 66 of the Public
Health Act, 1925. It would appear that the weak points affect adults rather
than children, and are concerned not so much with any lack of facilities for treatment
as with delay in their use owing to lack of appreciation of the gravity of the
condition. The failure may be on the part of the patient, more rarely on the part
of others. The most important element consists in education in the direction
seeking advice whenever needed. In this respect London is relatively well
situated.
Myopes in secondary schools.—In the annual report for the year 1925 it was
stated that the Council had decided that pupils who were successful in ordinary
scholarship examinations, but who were discovered by the school medical authority
to be suffering from myopia to a marked degree, should hold the awards at specially
selected schools where arrangements were made on lines parallel to those which
had proved successful in myopic and sight-saving classes in the elementary schools.
It was also decided that where the school was more than 2 miles from the pupil's
address an allowance should be made for travelling expenses over and above the
ordinary maintenance grant. This is a very important advance in its practice
of school hygiene. Hitherto, there has been no alternative in many cases other
than to refuse an award on account of the pupil's unfitness from a medical point
of view, and many bright pupils have thus been deprived of the advantages of
secondary education. During the year arrangements have been made for female
pupils to attend special sight-saving classes at the County Secondary Schools at
Peckham and Clapton, and the subjoined statement has been prepared for the
guidance of teachers in charge of classes. It has not yet been possible to form
classes for male pupils but the matter is under consideration.
Myopes in
secondary
schools.
General.—(1) Myopes have frail eyes, overstretched and, therefore, weakened,
and much care should be taken in their use, particularly during the period of growth.
(2) Such children should not read or write for more than half an hour at a
stretch, and the total time the eyes are so used should not exceed an hour and a half
a day, and between each of the half-hour periods there should be an interval of at
least an hour.
(3) Homework and sewing are prohibited.
(4) Myopes should not be allowed to stoop over their work nor to hold it close
Statement
for the
guidance of
teachers in
charge of
myope
classes.