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161
Eye Clinic.
One of the most important matters for comment during
the past year has been the establishment and inauguration
of an Ophthalmic Clinic for the treatment of diseases of the
eye and errors of refraction. This was started at the end of
June, and is held at the new school on the Great North Road,
where all proper facilities are provided In May Dr.
Pritchard was appointed to act in a consultative capacity for
the period of one year, and my best thanks are due to him for
the time and trouble he has taken. This Clinic has been
exceedingly successful—in fact the number of children
attending it has been far in excess of what was anticipated.
It was at first intended to devote one half-day a fortnight
to the work. In a very short time, however, it was found
necessary to devote one half day a week, and this was then
increased to two half days a week. This was largely due to
the fact that a very considerable number of children were
waiting to be dealt with at the time the Clinic was started,
and also to the fact that errors of refraction, especially in
children, take a long time to work out. It may be mentioned
that all refractions are worked out by the shadow or retinoscopic
test after the use of a mydriatic. Simply testing the
vision with glasses is not resorted to.
It is necessary for each child to attend the clinic at least
twice—sometimes three times, and the more severe cases,
such as squint, have to be kept under continuous Supervision.
During the year 84 children were attended to at the
Clinic—73 cases of errors of refraction and 11 cases of
diseases of the eye. This entailed 192 attendances.