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In addition to the children having a full eye examination, many others are
reinspected and a number of children make several attendances. The total number of
attendances during the year was 7,046, and of these 6,110 were made by school children
and 936 by children under school age. Where operative treatment was considered necessary
the children were admitted to Whipps Cross Hospital and during the year 77 squint
operations were performed on 71 children referred from the West Ham Lane Clinic. Twentyfour
of these were on children under school age. The results of operation combined with
treatment in the orthoptic department were very satisfactory.
The work of the orthoptic department has been carried out by Mrs.Palfreman. There
were 2,339 attendances including 355 from children under school age. Of these there were
6l new patients under school age and 110 new patients among school children.
Mr.Lauder continued with his duties as full time optician and he dispensed 1,150
prescriptions for new glasses; while 503 prescriptions were taken to outside opticians.
In addition to measuring and fitting new glasses Mr.Lauder deals with a large number of
repairs for broken glasses and many of the minor repairs or adjustments are carried out in
the clinic. The number of attendances in his department amounted to 4,837.
Defective Colour Vision.
The Confusion Chart Test designed by Professor Shinobu Ishihara of Tokyo University
and known as the Ishihara Test, is considered a satisfactory test for general use in the
School Health Service, and all the medical officers are provided with an album of plates.
This test has been used in West Ham for many years but has been limited to pupils attending
grammar and technical schools; for boys who have obtained Sea Training Scholarships, and
for those pupils who propose entering services where correct colour discrimination is
necessary. In 1957, however, testing will be extended so as to cover the pupils in the
secondary modern schools. There are considerable differences between individuals in their
ability to distinguish one colour from another. In the great majority of cases defective
colour vision is congenital and although women are frequently carriers of the defect,
without they themselves necessarily having defective colour vision, the incidence is very
much greater in males.
Since it is a severe handicap in certain occupations it is clearly in the child's
interest that it should be discovered before his career is decided. The test, which is
easily explained and understood and quickly carried out is given at the age of 14 years and
can be done in an ordinary room in good daylight. Many cases, when informed of the defect,
state that they are aware of it and often explain in various ways how they became aware
of it.
When a defect is found the parent is advised and the head teacher informed. The
colour defective boy may be at a serious disadvantage in any profession or trade which
demands accurate colour discrimination and because of this the test is given in good time
to prevent boys from preparing for occupations for which a colour vision defect might render
them unsuitable. The parent is told that the child has difficulty in recognising and matching
colours, and that he should manage well enough in ordinary life. Unfortunately, it cannot be
cured but it will get no worse. The parent would not wish to waste time and energy in having
the boy trained and then find that he was not really suitable for the job because of defective
colour vision. It is also important that a boy with colour defect should know about it as
early as possible. Advice regarding the occupations that are closed to him any save him a
bitter disappointment.
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