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"The present position with regard to children suffering from low or moderate degrees of
myopia attending school in the Council's elementary education area, is that they are called up
by the Council's part-time ophthalmic surgeons for re-examination about every twelve months.
"High myopes are usually dealt with by being sent to special schools for partially sighted
children where their visual condition also is kept under close supervision.
"At the age of 14, in the case of the former group, and at the age of 16 in the latter group,
the supervision ceases.
"Myopia under certain conditions is prone to progress until the age of 18 or 20, and periodical
examination, advice, and if necessary, change of lenses, are matters of very considerable
importance.
" Section 176 of the Public Health Act, 1936, is as follows:—
" '(1) A county council or local authority may make such arrangements as they think
desirable for assisting in the prevention of blindness, and in particular for the treatment
of persons ordinarily resident within their area, who are suffering from any
disease of, or injury to, the eyes.
"(2) Any expenses incurred under this section by a county council shall, if the Minister
by order so directs, be defrayed as expenses for special county purposes charged on
such part of the county as may be provided by the order, but any such order may
be revoked or varied by a subsequent order.
"I think consideration might be given to the question of asking the County Council to
implement this section to the extent of offering facilities for periodical re-examination and treatment
at the Council's School Ophthalmic Clinics to any adolescent ascertained at school to be
suffering from defective vision, who, in the opinion of the Council's Ophthalmic Surgeons, should
be kept under supervision for a few years after leaving school.
"So far as the Council's elementary education area is concerned, this could be done with
with very little, if any, extension of the existing scheme. Cases requiring continued supervision
after the age of 14 would not be very many, and not all of those to whom it is offered would,
perhaps be able or willing to avail themselves of the service.
"So far as the 'Part 3' areas are concerned, these authorities (who already are carrying
out ophthalmic examination and treatment of children attending secondary, etc., schools in their
areas), might be asked to undertake the work on behalf of the County Council on payment of the
same charges as already have been agreed.'
"The Public Health Committee of the County Council have agreed to the proposal submitted, and
have entered into an arrangement with the Education Committee of the County Council in order that
children ascertained at school to be suffering from defective vision who, in the opinion of the Council's
ophthalmic surgeon, should continue under supervision, may attend the ophthalmic clinics set up by
the Middlesex Education Committee at intervals during their adolescence.
"I am writing to enquire if your Council would be willing to co-operate with the County Council
in this measure, directed towards the prevention of blindness, by offering similar facilities to children
attending elementary or secondary schools in your district. It is suggested that the County Council
should pay to your authority the same fee per refraction as that which already has been agreed between
your Council and the Education Committee of the County Council, namely, 7/6. The cost of any
necessary glasses would be borne by the adolescents concerned or, if they were unable to bear this cost,
the charge would be met by the County Council under its public assistance powers.
" I shall be glad to learn the decision of your Council on this matter in due course.
"Yours faithfully,
"J. TATE,
"County Medical Officer."
Notes for the information of the Health Committee by the Medical Officer of Health.
All Willesden children with visual defects who attend the Eye clinics of the Authority are required
to re-attend at intervals of three, six, nine or twelve months as may be directed by the Council's
Ophthalmic Surgeon, depending on the nature of the visual defect.
"High Myope " comes within the definition " Blind " under Section 69 of the Education Act,
1921, which reads as follows:—
" The expression ' blind ' means too blind to be able to read the ordinary school books used
by children."
All High Myopes who are discovered in the Public Elementary Schools are dealt with by the
Children's Care Committee and suitable schools are found for them. Children attending these schools
are under the supervision of the Ophthalmic Surgeon of the school.
In 1935, considerable correspondence took place between the Secretary of the Middlesex Education
Committee and myself with regard to the method to be adopted in the examination of children about
to leave schools for the blind in connection with their certification as blind within the meaning of the
Blind Persons Act, 1920, as required by the Board of Education in Circular 1431 (5-10-33).