View report page

Vision Defects
Defects of vision constitute the largest single group of abnormalities
discovered by the School Health Service (Table 3). The number of such
defects noted at routine school medical inspections showed a slight fall
during the year, but the proportion of defects discovered during vision
inspections at other times remained similar to that in 1968. Although the
primary objective of the service must be the discovery and specialist
investigation of such defects, its overall responsibilities must continue
after appropriate treatment has been given. Regular reviews are necessary
to ensure that the spectacles being used are still suitable, since some
children do not return to the optician for regular examination. Moreover,
efforts must be made to persuade the child to wear the spectacles which
have been provided. Reference was made in last year's Report (p. 13) to
the number of children who were not wearing the glasses which had been
prescribed for them on the day of a routine vision test in secondary schools.
In earlier Reports (1966, 1967) reference was made to the difficulty in
obtaining appropriate treatment for vision defects, and in consequence the
Education Committee agreed in 1965 to continue a School Eye Clinic in
Purley, formerly administered by the Surrey County Council, and to extend
treatment facilities to a new Clinic in Sanderstead. Subsequently a further
extension of services was permitted to cover the New Addington area in
1967. Since that time waiting lists at all Eye Clinics providing facilities for
school children have been contained. During 1969 the Regional Hospital
Board offered to assume responsibility for all School Eye Clinics in the
Borough, but although it was recognised that the existing service is not
without cost to the Corporation, the Education Committee decided that it
would retain responsibility for the existing School Eye Clinics in the
Borough. Nevertheless, it is possible to ensure adequate co-ordination