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109
VISUAL DEFECTS.
Arrangements for the examination and treatment of visual
defects remain as in the previous year, children being referred
to your Ophthalmic Surgeon, generally as a result of defects
found at Routine Medical Examinations, but occasionally as
a result of special examinations, the defect having been suspected
by the Teacher who is in a favourable position to
realise the child's disability at an early stage.
It will be seen from Table IV. that altogether 662 children
were examined during the year because of suspected eye
defects, this being an increase of 30 over those examined in
the previous year. Glasses were prescribed in 411 cases and
for the remainder it was not considered necessary to provide
any mechanical aid to sight as the conditions were such, that
improvement could be expected normally.
A certain number of cases requiring operative treatment
are met with each year and it has been the practice to refer
these to the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, at which
Hospital your Ophthalmic Surgeon is a member of the
Honorary staff. The Council have therefore now entered into
arrangements with that Hospital to pay 6/- per day for each
child admitted for treatment from this Authority. 16 cases
were admitted during the year and successfully operated upon
by your Ophthalmic Surgeon, 13 for squint, 2 for congenital
cataract and 1 for ptosis.
The number of children attending the Eye Clinics during
the past year is as follows:—