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Of 583 children who were tested on the Keystone apparatus, 291 failed (50%). Of these failures
119 (41%) were either already under treatment or had received treatment previously. A further
74 (25%) were re-tested by the orthoptist and passed as normal. 66 (23%) were confirmed by the
orthoptist as having defects but were not referred for further investigations for various reasons,
e.g. colour vision only involved, cosmetically good, due to leave school. 32 children (11%) were
referred by the orthoptist for investigation by the ophthalmologist.
Ear, Nose and Throat Clinics
There is now only one Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at which a consultant attends, which is held at
Park Lane Medical Centre, Tottenham, once a month. As the number of referrals continues to
decrease, it is likely that this session will be discontinued in 1970 and that Mr. W. McKenzie, the
Consultant, will see cases referred to him at the Prince of Wales's Hospital.
Mr. McKenzie reports as follows on the work of the Park Lane Clinic:-
"The striking feature of my clinic is the progressive reduction of patients and / notice that this
is confirmed by the closure of similar clinics elsewhere in the borough.
It is astonishing to record that there has been no case of chronic suppurative otitis media seen
during the last six months".
Ophthalmic Clinics
There are three school ophthalmic clinics held in the Borough, at which 7 weekly sessions are held.
During 1969 the Wood Green School Ophthalmic Clinic continued to be held at the Lordship Lane
Medical Centre, Tottenham. The new Stuart Crescent Health Centre opened at the end of the year
and Wood Green cases will be seen in 1970 at the new Health Centre.
Two full-time orthoptists work in conjunction with and under the direction of the consultant
ophthalmologists.
Dr. T.G. Kletz, Consulting Ophthalmologist for Lordship Lane Clinic,Tottenham, reports as follows:-
"The work at this clinic is. in the main, the examination of children referred on account of defective
vision and defects of ocular muscles. The children are first refracted and glasses prescribed when
required. Cases of squint or muscle imbalance, also cases of amblyopia are referred for orthoptic
investigation and treatment where necessary.
In view of the comparatively high incidence of myopia in different nationalities, an ethnic survey
has been carried out during the past few years and was continued during 1969 with the following
results: -
1. Of the children attending the clinic. 51.7% were native. 48.3% immigrant or of immigrant
origin.
2. Of the children attending for the first time, the comparative figures are:
Native 40.6%
Immigrant 59.4%
The immigrant section consisted of approximately
49% West Indian
16% Cypriot
16% Irish
3. The figures for myopia were
Native 33.7% of cases seen were myopic
Immigrant 46% of cases seen were myopic
(West Indian 48%)
4. The incidence of high myopia in young children was almost totally in the West Indians.
West Indians - Under 3 years 3 cases over 7 dioptres, including
1 of over 14 dioptres.
Age 3—7 years 7 cases over 7 dioptres, including
4 of over 10 dioptres.
West Africans — 1 case age 7 with 16 dioptres of myopia."
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