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Vision Defects
This group of defects still remains the largest found at routine medical inspections—30.7%
of all defects; last year the figure was 39.4%. Of the 1,111 children presenting with vision defects,
504 were in the 5/6 year old group. 75 needed treatment and 429 were referred for observation
and retesting. At the intermediate examination (11/12 year old group) 141 were sent for treatment
and 254 were noted for further observation. Among the leavers, 69 needed treatment and 143
were to be seen again before the leaving date.
It is clear from these figures that careful, frequent examinations are required to identify
children whose vision may deteriorate; ideally the inspections should be conducted every two
years. As will be noted in the figures given for routine vision testing below, vision tests are made
at 5, 7, 11 and 15 years of age.
A slightly smaller proportion of infant children presented with squints in 1971 than in 1970.
Other conditions of the eye, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, etc., remain at a low level.
Routine Vision Testing
The routine vision testing scheme is intended to augment vision testing given to pupils when
examined at routine medical inspections. For several years now, the scheme has covered children
at seven years of age. Other children are included from junior departments where there is evidence
from previous vision tests, that the child's vision needs to be observed.
At the end of 1970, the Local Education Authority had agreed that with the medical staff at
well below establishment level, it would not be possible to carry out the routine medical inspection
of the primary leaving group (i.e. children of eleven years of age approximately). In these circumstances,
it was decided at the beginning of 1971, that the whole of this primary school leaving
group should be included in the routine vision testing scheme. Consequently, the number of
children tested during 1971, was more than double the figures obtained for 1970.
The results were:
Number of children tested 8,058
Number referred for opinion of school medical officer 326
Of these:
94 were referred to the Authority's Ophthalmic Clinics.
56 were referred for treatment via general practitioners, at the request of parents.
110 were referred for re-examination at School Health Clinics.
42 were considered to have normal vision.
24 were already having ophthalmic treatment.
Of the 94 children referred to the Authority's Ophthalmic Clinics:
61 were prescribed glasses.
28 were noted for re-examination.
5 were discharged.
Five of the 94 were also referred to the Authority's Orthoptic Clinic.
Defects of Ears
This is the second largest group of defects found at routine medical inspections accounting
for 13-8% of the total (12.8% in 1970). Of this number, reduction in hearing acuity produces the
largest proportion of disability. The 5/6 year old group produced a total of 225 children with some
hearing loss in one or both ears at the time of testing and 177 of these were referred for treatment.
125 out of 150 in the intermediate group needed treatment, a figure only slightly smaller than the
infants and indicates the effects of infectious diseases, such as cold and childish ailments have
upon the ability to hear. Only 56 leavers were referred for treatment; this, however, is still a large
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