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100
Defective Vision.
Treatment for minor diseases of the eye are carried
out at the routine Treatment Clinic for minor ailments.
Cases discovered at school inspection, or at special inspection
at the School Clinic, and who have 6/9 vision or less,
are referred to the special Eye Clinic held weekly. The
Assistant School Medical Officer attends to the children
tested under atropine. Those requiring glasses are sent to
a local optician, who through the agency of the Care Committee
provides glasses at reduced prices.
Six per cent. of children examined at Bromley schools,
and 9 per cent. of children attending the School Clinic, are
found to have defective vision, and if the routine medical
inspection did nothing else hut this, it would be well worth
the expenditure at present incurred. A child with undiscovered
defective vision cannot fully acquire the education
provided.
I am finding that one Eye Clinic a week is not enough
to cope with the work demanded of it. Not only have we
to test the new cases discovered, but the re-testing of
children of previous years must be carried out periodically.
Thus, in 1930, 438 attended the Eye Clinic, 414 of these
requiring refraction, 13 cases only were treated privately,
and 144 cases were referred for provision of glasses, all of
which were provided.
In one case it was necessary to take action through
the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, who were successful in their Court action, the
parent being fined £5 for neglect. By the co-operation
of the teachers, children who fail to wear their glasses in
school are reported, and the necessary action taken.
Three cases of high myopia were sent to special schools
for physically defective children, and are making progress
in their education. The wisdom of this is debatable; it
adequate attention can be given to the high myopic in an
ordinary elementary school, their scholastic progress is said
to be better than if they are referred to a special school.
Two blind and two partially blind children are in residential
schools.