London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Table (i)
| Age | Principal cause of defective vision | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract | Glaucoma | Retrolental fibroplasia | Other conditions | ||
| 0-4 years | 2 | — | 1 | 12 | 15 |
| 5-15 years | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 16-64 years. | 28 | 21 | — | 187 | 236 |
| 65-74 years | 63 | 37 | — | 168 | 268 |
| 75 years and over | 214 | 62 | — | 348 | 624 |
| Age not known | 2 | 1 | — | 7 | 10 |
| (a) Total No. of persons | 309 | 121 | 1 | 723 | 1,154 |
| (b) No. recommended to obtain treatment | 190 | 90 | — | 314 | 594 |
| (b) as percentage of(a) | 61.5 | 74.4 | — | 43.4 | 51.5 |
Re-examinations
Persons recommended to obtain treatment are re-examined at intervals after the
initial registration. The number of persons re-examined for this reason in 1956 is shown
in table (ii).
Table (ii)
| Principal cause of defective vision | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract | Glaucoma | Retrolental fibroplasia | Other conditions | Total | |
| No. of persons re-examined | 165 | 38 | 2 | 143 | 348 |
| No. found to have had treatment | 109 | 33 | 1 | 98 | 241 |
| Percentage treated | 661 | 86.8 | 50.0 | 68.5 | 69.3 |
These figures are a measure of the extent to which treatment was obtained. Since
most of the blind and partially-sighted are elderly or old people, many of whom are
reluctant to accept treatment, a treatment rate of 69 per cent. can, on the whole, be
regarded as satisfactory.
As a consequence of successful treatment, 40 persons previously registered as blind
were found, on re-examination, to be partially-sighted and 39 persons previously
certified as blind or partially-sighted were found to be improved to such an extent as no
longer to justify registration.
Figures for ophthalmia neonatorum are given on page 24.
During the year the Ministry of Health published, under the title 'Blindness in
England 1951-1954,' a review by Professor Arnold Sorsby, M.D., F.R.C.S., of the data
contained in the blind registration certificates obtained from certain local authorities
including the Council.
41