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The number of children with squints receiving prescriptions
for new glasses during the year was 408. Some of these had
acquired straight eyes with glasses, and so did not require
frequent re-attendances; others did not attend for re-inspection
as requested; but the rest, along with others who had not had
new prescriptions, did make further visits to the clinic. The
number of children with squints re-inspected by me and given
advice or occlusion treatment was 389, and these children made
830 attendances.
In May, 1947, an Orthoptist was appointed and occlusion
cases were passed on to her. Although this relieved me of some
treatments, it increased the number of re-inspections, as all cases
treated by an orthoptist must also be seen by an ophthalmic
Surgeon at the beginning and end, and occasionally during, a
course of treatment.
Miss Goodland, the Orthoptist, saw 458 school children by
the end of 1947, and these children made 1,813 attendances at
her clinic. Some of the children made only one attendance for
examination, as, in addition to treating cases as I referred them,
she also commenced to work alphabetically through the squint
cards, compiling lists of those needing treatment and/or operation,
and discharging those who had acquired binocular vision
(straight eyes) through the use of glasses.
In the summer of 1947 I also commenced admitting children
with squints to Whipps Cross Hospital for operations, and by the
end of the year 33 children had been operated on and 36 operations
performed, as 3 children had such a large angle of squint
to begin with that two operations were necessary to get the eyes
straight.
Among the children operated on, many should have had
operations much earlier, but, firstly, interruption in treatment
caused by war and evacuation, and afterwards the long waiting
lists at the various hospitals, prevented it, with the result that
it was too late to train binocular vision or improve vision in the
bad eye by occlusion, but a good cosmetic result was obtained
from operation.
Binocular vision was obtained after operation in 5 cases,
good cosmetic result without binocular vision in 26 cases, 1
divergent afterwards, but appearance much improved by operation,
and parents and child (girl of 14 years) were well satisfied
and did not wish further treatment. The remaining child
requires a second operation, but, unfortunately, I have not
received parents' consent for it to be done.
In addition, 4 children other than squint cases were seen at
Whipps Cross Hospital, 2 being admitted, 1 for operation for
detached retina and the other for complete investigation.
Children also attended the Eye Clinic for treatment of
external eye diseases, but, unfortunately, figures for these cases
are only available for those cases for the six months from July
to December, and during this period 247 cases were seen and
made 423 attendances.
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