View report page

152
OPHTHALMIC CLINIC, 1937.
School Clinic—
Number of new cases 492
Glasses prescribed 295
Glasses not necessary 197
Glasses obtained 294
Special treatment 69
Re-examinations 2572
Discharged 178
Cases treated at Hospital for strabismus 2
Other cases treated at Hospital 8
Baby Clinic.
Number of new cases 48
Glasses prescribed 16
Glasses obtained 16
Special treatment 5
Re-examinations 56
Discharged 7
Cases treated at Hospital 3
Sight-Saving Class.
Number of pupils 13
During the past year 492 children have been examined and
treated for defective vision. In addition, 2,572 re-examinations
were made in connection with children who are kept under
periodical examination. This re-examination of cases adds very
considerably to the work of the Clinic, but it is of the greatest
importance: it brings home to all concerned, to the parents, the
teachers and the children themselves that visual defect is only
too liable to get worse, and that constant attention must be given
both at school and at home if children with defective sight are
to have good education and yet not suffer in the process so that,
in spite of considerable scholastic success, their wage-earning
capacities are seriously reduced by damage to the eyes before they
can begin to earn their own living. Supervision consists in reexamining
at regular intervals, usually of six months, and noting
deterioration or otherwise of vision, prescribing fresh glasses,
checking the amount of work done in school if necessary, and
lastly, in keeping careful watch upon conditions specially liable
to lead to increase in the degree of short sight.