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Included amongst the above were 6 boys and 4 girls who
were suffering' from squint in addition to an error of
refraction.
The majority of cases examined had been diagnosed at
the routine medical inspection and referred to the School
Medical Officer by the School Nurse. A certain number were
sent to the department by their teachers on suspicion of
having defective eyesight. Others, again, were brought by
their parents for advice on the matter.
A few words may be said as to the method of examination
employed. In all children under eight years of age
atropine ointment is used to dilate the pupils and paralyse
the muscles of accommodation.
In children over eight atropine is not used unless there
is any special indication for it, but homotropine and cocaine
drops are instilled into the eye at the time of examination.
In certain of the older children no mydriatic is required.
There is need for some insistence on the fact that the
examination of the eyes of children necessitates the use of
poisonous drugs, the use of which must be carefully regulated.
Many sight-testing opticians claim to be able to test
correctly children's eyesight without the use of a mydriatic
drug. This claim is confuted by the unanimous opinion of