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150
8 years. The health of the children's eyes is well shown by these
figures for myopia and squint. We may take it that we need have
no anxiety on this point. As it becomes more generally known
that, by reason of the newly instituted Squint Training or Orthoptic
Clinic, there are now facilities in the Borough which formerly could
be obtained only in Central London, the numbers of cases with
squint will probably rise.
Squint Clinic.
In my last Annual Report to the Authority I outlined the
difficulties encountered by the Ophthalmic Surgeon in trying to
make arrangements for Leyton children suffering from squint to
attend at the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital for special
treatment and training under his supervision.
Following a special report, containing the observations of your
Ophthalmic Surgeon, submitted by me in 1935, the Council decided
to establish a special squint clinic for the treatment and training of
children suffering from squint.
The special clinic for the treatment and orthoptic training of
children suffering from squint was established in June, 1936.
Owing to the great number of new cases to be examined with
a view to their classification and selection for appropriate treatment
it was not possible to begin the actual orthoptic treatment and
exercises until 7th September.
Since that time the Council's Orthoptist (Miss P. Montague
Smith), under the supervision of the Authority's Ophthalmic
Surgeon, has held two sessions per week at Leyton Green Clinic.
As each child's training in binocular vision requires at least twenty
minutes at each attendance, it is not possible to deal with more
than eight cases per session ; and, as the necessary treatment and
training requires regular attendance twice a week over a period