London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Richmond upon Thames 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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OPHTHALMOLOGY
Dr. Helena Bridget Casey, M.B., B.Ch., D.O.M.S., ophthalmologist, reports on the
work of the ophthalmic clinics : —
"The ophthalmic clinics of the Borough have been well attended during the
year. The school children provide the usual defects of visual refractive errors;
hypermetropia, astigmatism and especially the development of axial myopia, which
is marked towards the end of the primary school years.
"The pre'School medical examinations contribute many children for investigation
of strabismus. This is an excellent thing as early investigation will reduce the
number of amblyopia ex-anopsia or 'lazy' eyes which were in the past so commonly
found in the first year of primary school. It is to be noted how Co-operative the
parents of today are in their willingness to seek advice and treatment.
"The handicapped children from the various special schools of the Borough
are not forgotten and attend regularly.
"Mrs. Butterworth, our orthoptist continues to give an excellent service and
is of great help to me in the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus".
Table VIII.
Eye Diseases, Defective Vision and Squint.
| Number of cases known to have been dealt with | |
|---|---|
| External and other, excluding errors of refraction and squint | 61 |
| Errors of refraction (including squint) | 1892 |
| Total | 1953 |
| Number of pupils for whom spectacles prescribed | 528 |
Keystone Telebinocular Vision Screener.
The use of Keystone Telebinocular Vision Screeners continued in the schools
during 1972. The instruments are operated by the audiometer/vision screener operators.
The statistics relating to this screening procedure are given below :
Table IX.
| Age Group. | First Tests | Failures | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | TOTAL | % of Col. 2 | |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| Infant | 981 | 58 | 5.91 |
| Junior | 946 | 121 | 12.79 |
| Senior | 570 | 98 | 17.19 |
| TOTAL | 2497 | 277 | 11.09 |