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71
During the year 1,027 children attended for examination and
in 694 cases spectacles were prescribed. The remainder either
did not require glasses, or needed no change in their existing
prescription.
Partially sighted Children.—In 1932 a recommendation was
made to the Education Committee that a " sight saving
class " for myopic school children should be set up, but the Board
of Education, on this proposal being submitted to them, suggested
that it should be held in abeyance pending the report of the
Committee of Enquiry which had been set up by the Board to
study the problems presented by such children. On the publication
of the report of this Committee a report was submitted to the
Education Committee as follows :—
" The Treatment of Myopic or Partially Sighted Children
" In the autumn of 1932, it was recommended by me that the
Education Committee might with advantage set up a ' sight-saving
class ' for myopic school-children. At the suggestion of the Board
of Education this project was held in abeyance pending the report
of a Committee of Enquiry which had been set up by the Board
and was at that time engaged in the study of the problems presented
by such children. The report of the Committee has recently
been published (June, 1934) and I propose discussing the main
conclusions.
" The indications for admission of a child to a special school
are stated to be :
(a) Fundus changes indicative of a serious condition
of myopia.
(b) Myopia progressing at the rate of more than 1 dioptre
per annum.
(c) Myopia progressing at that rate after a quiescent
period.
(d) Myopia with a visual acuity of 6/24 or worse after
correction.
(e) The age of a child and the presence or absence of a
family history of myopia should be taken into account.
"It is emphasised that every case should be treated on its
own merits.