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No charge is made for the examination of the eyesight.
Those cases requiring glasses can obtain them from a local
optician who has contracted to supply them at the following
prices:—
Steel frames, 2s. a pair.
Nickel frames, 3s. and 3s. 6d.
Rolled gold, 4s. 6d.
These figures cover the cost of all spectacles except certain
expensive kinds which are not often required.
The prescription having been taken to the optician, he
fits the glasses and the child returns with them to the School
Medical Officer. The latter ascertains that the prescription
has been correctly carried out and that the spectacles fit the
child. If any defects in fit are noticed, the child returns to
the optician, who is instructed how to remedy them.
The majority of parents are both willing and able to
purchase the necessary spectacles for their children. In a
few cases of great poverty advantage has been taken of a
small voluntary fund to pay the whole or part of the cost
of the glasses. It is desirable that some permanent provision
should be made for supplying spectacles free of charge to
necessitous children. The expenditure of two or three
shillings on a pair of spectacles often puts a great strain on
the family exchequer, and means a lessened expenditure on
food and clothing, especially when defective eyesight runs
in a family, as it often does.
The work of prescribing spectacles was started in
July, 1912.
155 children (66 boys and 89 girls) have been examined.
Of these, 12 boys and 17 girls were found not to require
glasses. Two cases were referred to hospital for surgical