View report page

27
provides for the attendance of an optician at each session,
who makes and fits the glasses in accordance with the prescription
of the Ophthalmic Surgeon. A certain number
requiring operative treatment, particularly cases of severe
degrees of squint, are encountered each year, and these are
referred to the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital,
where your Ophthalmic Surgeon is a member of the Honorary
Staff. As an ancillary to the ophthalmic service, an orthoptic
scheme has been in operation since 19136. This scheme was
first introduced because of the evidence which had accumulated
that many children, particularly those suffering from
squint, might, by operation or otherwise, achieve a perfect
aesthetic result, but had not in fact at the same time achieved
binocular vision as the defective eye had not played its
proper part for a protracted period, and had thus become
functionally inadequate.
There are other visual defects for which orthoptic treatment
is of value but its main usefulness is in the treatment of
squint and for its encouragement of the defective eye to
assume its proper function.
AURAL CLINIC:
This Clinic was established in 1945 to provide treatment
for affections of the ear, nose and throat discovered amongst
children, particularly those of school age, and also so that
expert guidance might be obtained on the many cases referred
for operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids. As
the Clinic is a comparatively recent development, it has not so
far been reported upon fully. It has, however, now been
established sufficiently long to permit of an assessment of its
value, and I am indebted to Dr. F. P. M. Clarke, who is in
charge of the Clinic, for the following report:—
"A new clinic in connection with the school medical
service for the treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and
throat was established for Hendon Borough children in
January, 1945. The scheme of the clinic embraces the
examination and treatment of affections of the ear, nose
and throat, as far as is possible in an out-patient clinic,
for all school and pre-school children within the Borough.