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medical and nursing staff can devote much more detailed attention to a
particular child's problems.
Eye Diseases, Defective Vision and Squint
During the year 231 cases of disease of the eye (including minor
defects treated at minor ailment clinics) were treated. Through arrangements
made with the Regional Hospital Board, children with defective
vision are referred to either the Honeypot Lane Clinic, the Caryl Thomas
Clinic or the Alexandra Avenue Clinic where refraction is carried out by
an ophthalmic surgeon. As mentioned in the general introduction to the
report, due to the retirement of two ophathalmic surgeons some difficulties
were experienced in covering these clinics during the second half of the
year. The Hospital Board had decided to link the new appointment with
sessions in the ophthalmic department of Edgware General Hospital. Due
to the grading of the post the response to advertisement was poor.
No appointment had been made by the end of the year and the Board
were endeavouring to secure the services of a locum to cover the sessions
in the local clinics. 1,056 cases were seen during the year and in 259 cases
glasses were prescribed.
Orthoptic Clinic
An orthoptist attends the Caryl Thomas Clinic for two sessions each
week to deal with cases referred by the visiting ophthalmic surgeon. These
cases include the pre and post-operative treatment of cases of squint.
Visition Testing
The accurate recording of a child's vision is of primary importance
and every effort is made to obtain an as accurate as possible result in
all school entrants. Both the rotating 'E' Card and the Sheridan-Pugmire
Cards are used. Doubtful results are carefully followed up by repeat
examinations either in school or at the clinic.
Vision is again tested at future periodic school medical inspections.
Ideally a child's vision should be recorded annually but this is not possible
at present. However, as a compromise, efforts are made to conduct a
biennial test of vision by having additional vision sweep tests carried out
by the health visitor/school nurse or clinic nurse. In order to test vision
by standardised procedures which are independent of the conditions of
test, a Keystone Telebinocular Vision Screener is in use—this machine
indicates near point and distance seeing ability easily and rapidly. Tests
for colour vision can be introduced for screening of the 11 year age group.
All pupils failing this screening procedure are referred to the ophthalmic
surgeon. The test tends to be very selective but this is not considered to
be a drawback.
Colour Vision
All children have a test for colour vision at their intermediate periodic
medical inspection. The importance of this test lies in the fact that children
with defective colour vision know at an early age that they will be unsuitable
for certain occupations.