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80
Ophthalmic Clinics
During the past year the Hornsey Eye Clinic has continued to be very busy, the majority of
cases being referred for defects of vision due to errors of refraction. These were dealt with in
the usual way and glasses prescribed.
The visiting consultant, Dr. R. Welch, has, however, drawn attention to the large number of
children who required a period of continuous treatment, especially those suffering from uni-ocular
amblyopia. Here, the vision in one eye is of a much lower standard than in the other, due either
to a convergent squint or aniso-metropia. The requisite treatment, after the error of refraction
has been corrected, consists of occludingthe non-amblyopic eye for periods varying from three to
four months and during that period the children are seen at fortnightly intervals in the orthoptic
clinic, where a careful record of thevisial acuity is kept. As soon as the vision in the amblyopic
eye has improved to near that of the other eye a course of orthoptic treatment is given to establish
and maintain binocular vision.
To obtain the best results early detection of the condition is essential and enquiry should
be made as to whether there is a family history of poor vision in one eye the so-called "lazy
eye", since this is suggestive. On following the above routine, the results on the whole have
been satisfactory, but in those few cases where correction of an error of refraction and orthoptic
treatment have failed to cure a squint surgical treatment becomes essential,
An equally busy year was experienced at the Tottenham Ophthalmic Clinic where many
children with refractive errors and squints were referred to the visiting consultant, Mr. T. Kletz.
Of a wide variety of other conditions two of outstanding clinical interest were a case of buphthalmos
(infantile glaucoma), and a case of trachoma, Both these children received further investigation
in hospital; but, although the diagnosis of trachoma was confirmed bacteriologically, a search
for contacts proved unavailing. Happily, the infection cleared up satisfactorily with treatment.
Two pupils were registered as partially-sighted during 1960; a case of congenital nystagmus and
another of congenital dislocation of the lenses.
In December, Mr. Kletz demonstrated a number of clinical cases to the school medical
officers in the Area, including cases of "squint" and the orthoptic methods used. Such an
occasion, both enjoyable and instructive, encourages early detection of ophthalmic defects which
both consultants so rightly stress.