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ferred to a hospital such as Moorfields, Oldchurch, etc. It must be
pointed out that of these 12, only 3 have so far been operated upon,
although a further 4 are awaiting their operation. The remaining 5
were not recommended by the ophthalmic consultant concerned for
operation for various reasons. The writer referred these 5, as well as
the other 7, for surgery because (a) patients were cosmetically satisfactory,
but not orthoptically satisfactory; (b) patients were cosmetically
poor and not orthoptically satisfactory, and/or (c) patients'
deviation was symptom producing. In all cases the patients were
unlikely to benefit from further orthoptic treatment without prior
surgical aid.
Discharges.
During the year, 14 patients were discharged as "orthoptically
satisfactory." Although this does not appear to be a big proportion
of the total cases in review, it must be remembered that time plays
a great part in curing any defect and although various other patients
are up to standard, the writer does not think that they should be discharged
until they have been satisfactory for at least three to six
months.
9 patients have been discharged as "Improved." These include
those patients who, though not orthoptically satisfactory, are unlikely
to benefit further from additional orthoptic treatment.
3 patients were transferred to other clinics, as they moved from
the Ilford area.
7 patients were discharged with intractable amblyopia, when prolonged
occlusion failed to improve the visual acuity of the amblyopic
eye.
12 patients were discharged after failing to keep any of four or
more consecutive appointments. (An excessive amount of absenteeism
was noticed throughout the year, though most of the absentees live
in the extreme north of llford, i.e., that part for which the clinic is
most inaccessible. Absenteeism was more marked during school
holidays than during term time.)
Total number of patients seen = 250
25 apparent squint
59 reports only seen only once
3 Transferred
14 orthoptically satisfactory
9 improved
7 intractable amblyopia
12 discontinued attendance discharged from orthoptic clinic
121 Under orthoptic supervision—occlusion
treatment
observation
250
Considering that the clinic is still in the first year of its existence
and that, as stated above, patients are not generally discharged until
about six months after attaining the required orthoptic standard, the
figures shown above would seem to forecast promising results for the
coming twelve months."
Orthopaedic Clinic.
Mr. H. G. Korvin, F.R.C.S., the Orthopaedic Surgeon, makes the
following report:—
"During the year 1953 it was possible to reduce further the
number of attendances at the Orthopaedic Clinics at Mayesbrook