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94
OPHTHALMIC CLINIC.
Dr. Eric Lyle reports, as follows:— "1950 has been a year of
steady progress in the work of the School Eye Clinic. Pupils
from certain private schools are now being admitted to the Clinic
in addition to the children from the maintained schools. Due
to an ever increasing number of children at the schools, and the
fact that the waiting list of patients for re-inspection a year ago
was larger than it should have been, it has been found necessary
to increase the hours of the regular clinics. These extra hours
have been well worth while because, not only are all new cases
able to be dealt with without any delay at all, but also the delay
with cases for re-inspection is slowly but surely being reduced.
That is a very satisfactory state of affairs.
The total number of cases who attended in 1950 was 1.481 as
against 1,186 in 1949, an increase of 295.
Attendance throughout the whole year has been very good
indeed. Co-operation on the part of the parents has been
excellent.
The question of delay in the provision of spectacles for
children who need them as the result of their examination has
been considerably reduced, though it is still not as good as one
would desire. Further progress there must be made.
Once again many cases of squint have been dealt with, both
surgically at the Bromley Hospital, and also in co-operation with
the Orthoptic Clinic.
In conclusion, I should like to record my sincere thanks to
the Health Visitors and to the clerical staff. They give wonderful
help over all matters appertaining to the smooth running of thp
Department."
ORTHOPTIC CLINIC.
1,630 treatments have been given at this Clinic during 1950,
as compared with 1,123 for 1949. The clinic is extremely busy
and many more cases have been postponed where sufficient
treatment had been given. The latter cases are taught exercises
to do at home and a great deal of time is saved. The number
of new cases is only five more than in the previous year. Owing
to the care with which the squints are diagnosed no time is
wasted in the clinic by seeing cases where orthoptic treatment
is not worth a trial.
It is very difficult to give the number of cures as the cases
which have responded well to treatment. are postponed for
increasing lengths of time so that any deterioration may be noted.
Cases are therefore coming up for check-up only, for some years
probably before being finally discharged.