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(d) Visual Defects and External Eye Disease.—The most remarkable step
achieved during the year 1935 was the appointment of a Consulting Ophthalmic
Surgeon, Mr. W. A. Gray, F.R.C.S., of 137, Harley Street, W.1, and of Queen
Mary's Hospital, Stratford, E.15. Mr. W. A. Gray took up his appointment under
the Corporation on the 14th May, 1936. This side of your work is now on a
thoroughly satisfactory basis. Save only with reference to the treatment of
squint, this service you have provided during the year has been strictly comparable
with the out-patient department of a large hospital or the out-patient department
of a large London hospital, and this question of the treatment of squint is at the
present time before you. Next year, I confidently hope to be able to tell you that
this treatment is being carried out on lines comparable with work of the out-patient
departments of our best hospitals.
A report on the work of the Ophthalmic Clinics, from the time he commenced
duty until the end of the year, has been prepared by Mr. Gray, and will be found
on pages 142-144.
767 cases of visual defect were dealt with under the Authority's Scheme.
Of this number 593 were provided with spectacles. These figures compare with
384 and 335 respectively for the previous year, and show the strides which have
been made in this work. The relatively larger number of cases not provided with
spectacles is an indication of other eye defects which are now dealt with satisfactorily
in your own Clinics.
With reference to the necessity, or otherwise, of providing special schools
or classes for myopic children, I would like to say personally, from the general
standpoint, that I never recommend any child who would, of necessity, have to
sell his labour in the ordinary markets, to be educated in any other than an ordinary
elementary school, unless the circumstances demand that he must be educated in a
special school.
Arising out of correspondence I have had with Mr. Gray on this matter he
wrote on the 3rd March, 1936:—
"I do not think there are enough cases of progressive myopia in Barking
to need a special class. So far as I have been able to judge the present system
of limiting near work—sewing, reading, etc.—has worked well.
This limitation of near work is, of course, quite consistent with ordinary
classes and is, in the main, directed to out-of-school reading, e.g., library
books, etc."