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19
VISION AND THE REFRACTION CLINIC.
The work of the Refraction Clinic continues to increase and
more children were seen in 1931 than in any preceding year;
1,785 appointments were given and 1,666 actual attendances
made, giving a percentage attendance of over 93 for the whole
year. Letters were received in 17 cases of those absent, giving
valid reasons for absence, such as illness.
In 1930, 1,578 appointments were made and the attendances
numbered 1,471, giving an almost identical percentage attendance
of just over 93. This is extremely satisfactory, and shows that
the parents not only appreciate the work which is being done, but
what is more important still, realise the necessity of conserving
their children's vision. It is a complete vindication of the time
spent in explanation and demonstration to parents. Every parent
is told in simple language what is the matter with the child's
eyes, and how the glasses help to remedy the defect with any
necessary instruction as to the child's habits and the avoidance
of eye strain. I am convinced that this is a necessary corollary
to the prescription of spectacles, as the intelligent co-operation of
parents is absolutely vital to the successful treatment of visual
defects. Alas, not every parent co-operates as well as one could
wish, but the response is very encouraging, and where Clinic and
parent work together the result is always satisfactory.
The number of refractions done was 531, an increase of 88
over last year.
Spectacles were prescribed in 480 cases, and obtained in
98 per cent. of the cases by the end of the year, the figures for
1930 being 405 spectacles prescribed, which were obtained in
97 per cent. of the cases.
Two clinics have been held weekly during the school terms,
but owing to the cases left over from 1930, 8 extra clinics were
held early in the year. This year has ended with a waiting list of
over 100, and it will be necessary again to have extra clinics to
reduce the numbers of those waiting.
The increasing numbers will doubtless lead to the establishment
of a third weekly clinic in the near future.
The outstanding feature of interest concerning vision during
the year was the publication in the autumn of the Board of Education
" Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Problems connected
with Defective Vision in School Children," a Report
which should prove of great usefulness to all who are dealing with
the vision of children, and which should stimulate enquiries into
the problems it indicates.