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33
Eye Disease and Vision.
During the year under review an attempt was made to follow
up all children who had been referred to the School Oculist, Dr.
Grace Banham, for eye disease or vision, since her appointment
in September, 1910. It was found that 36 had removed to other
areas and 149 had left school, making 185 who could not be traced.
371 cases were still in the Acton Schools, grouped as
follows:—
Cases under treatment or awaiting treatment 65
Cases other than those requiring glasses 80
Cases for which glasses were prescribed 226
Total 371
Of the cases which should have been wearing glasses :
168 were wearing them;
17 were not, but obtained them on request;
41 were not wearing them;
that is, 18 per cent. failed to wear the glasses needed.
This failure to wear glasses prescribed is due to several
reasons. Often the glasses are broken, and it is not thought worth
while to mend them. At other times the child is not at first accustomed
to wearing them, and will not persevere till the slight initial
discomfort has worn off Sometimes the eyes have changed, or the
frames have become too small, and the glasses need re-adjusting.
To prevent this as far as possible, all children who have been noted
as having defective vision or eye disease are seen after each
routine inspection at the school with the other referred cases, as
described in the section " following up." If necessary, they are
referred again to the School Oculist, and fresh glasses are prescribed
w here needed.
In addition to this, a special register was compiled of cases
which require special observation at frequent intervals, that is,
cases of myopia and strabismus.