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84
"It will be seen that the proportion of children whose vision
is really bad after correction is small (5.8 per cent.). In several
other cases, however, of children whose vision is as yet good or
fair, there is a risk of rapid progression of the morbid process.
"Dr. Bingham in his report for 1930 discussed the groups
into which myopic children may be graded. A small number
(estimated in London as only 1—1,800 of myopic children) must
be accommodated in special " myope schools " since their visual
acuity is so bad that they must perforce be taught by special
methods. These are extreme cases.
"In Ealing at present all the others are accommodated in
the ordinary elementary schools, and these may be divided into
three groups as follows :—
"Group 1.—This group includes those children who have
good vision with either eye, and cannot be looked upon as
severe or rapidly progressive cases. In Ealing 109 of the
total 158 belong to it. Such children can adopt the usual
curriculum both as regards games and lessons, and are hardly
handicapped in any way.
"Group 2.—Those children who have a serious defect in
one eye only, or a moderate one in both, are included in this
group and number 32. With reasonable care, school work
should not damage their vision, but all fine and close work
is prohibited, and the children are encouraged to write in a
large bold hand, preferably on a millboard. This is called
' easy treatment.'
"Groups.—Into this group fall those children who suffer
from myopia of a severe or rapidly progressive type. Some of
these have poor visual acuity and cannot read small type.
There are 17 on the records in Ealing.
"The divisions of these three groups are shown on the following
table :—