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(d). Visual Defects and External Eye Disease.
Five hundred and fifty-two cases were submitted to refraction. Spectacles were prescribed
in 517 cases and obtained before the end of the year in 498 cases.
Five other cases were treated by private arrangement of the parents. Spectacles were
prescribed and obtained in one of these cases.
A total of 154 external eye defects were treated at the School Clinics during the year.
These were chiefly conjunctivitis, blepharitis, with some phlyctenular ulcers and suppurating
conditions of the lids.
I am indebted to Dr. Roberts, who is in charge of the Refraction Clinic, for the following
report:—
VISION AND THE REFRACTION CLINIC.
This year there has been a slight increase in the number of appointments made, but one
has to record the lowest percentage attendance for the last five years.
Two thousand, two hundred and fifty-five appointments were made and the attendances
numbered 2,083, giving a percentage attendance of 92.37 for the whole year.
In 1933 the percentage attendance was 95.
As in previous years, the two weekly sessions were supplemented by a third when the
waiting list required it. In July the Busch House Health Centre at Isleworth was opened and this
has enabled the third Refraction Clinic to be held there for the benefit of people living at that end
of the district. The arrangement now is that two Refraction Clinics are held weekly at Clipstone
House, Hounslow, and one at Busch House, Isleworth.
It has always been felt that the necessity of calling Isleworth children to Hounslow acted
as a deterrent to some of the Isleworth parents accepting treatment for their children on account
of the distance from their homes. It was hoped that the Isleworth Clinic would remove any such
difficulty, but up-to-date the response has not been as good as had been expected. Only 326
appointments have been made since July 7th—this represents the total of those accepting treatment
—as there has been no waiting list—children having been seen within a few days of the consent
form being received. The attendances also were not very satisfactory—they numbered 298, giving
a percentage attendance of 91.41.
At Hounslow, the appointments for the year were 1929 and the attendances 1,785, giving
a percentage attendance of 92.53. These figures of course, include a number of Isleworth cases
who were seen at Hounslow prior to July.
The comparable figures are from the beginning of July to the end of the year.
At Hounslow 40 sessions were held—at Isleworth 20.
Eight hundred and seventy-three appointments were given at Hounslow and 815 attended,
giving a percentage attendance of 93.36, whilst at Isleworth, there were 326 appointments and 298
attendances, giving a percentage attendance of 91.41.
These figures show that an average attendance at the Hounslow Clinic was 20.37, whilst at
Isleworth, during the same period, the average was only 14.9.
At Hounslow there is always a waiting list and the interval between the consent form being
received and the appointment has frequently been six to eight weeks, and we have only kept the
waiting list within bounds by holding up the re-examination notices and sending them several
months late.
At Isleworth, as has been mentioned, there has been no waiting, and the re-examination
notices are up-to-date.
Refractions.
Five hundred and fifty-two children were submitted to refraction under the Authority's
Scheme; Spectacles were prescribed in 517 cases and of these 498 received them by the end of the
year.
These figures are slightly lower than in 1933 (581 refractions, 569 spectacles prescribed, 559
obtained)—doubtless the decrease is due to the larger number of absentees.
E. L. ROBERTS,
Deputy School Medical Officer.
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