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59
Specialist Clinics
Ophthalmic Four clinics are evenly spread within various parts of the
Clinic Borough.
221 sessions were held throughout the year and 454 new
cases and 1,456 old cases made a total attendance of 2,939.
738 complete pairs of spectacles were provided, some of
these being renewals after breakages. In addition, in 254
cases the lenses of spectacles were replaced or repairs of
of frames were carried out.
Dr. J. A. Fairhurst, Ophthalmologist at Kenwood Gardens
Clinic, reports as follows:—
"This particular school eye clinic is a very pleasant one in
which to work. It is well organised and the nursing staff are
efficient and kind.
The attendance for routine visits remains high and there is
an extremely high proportion of parents who attend even with
the older children.
Arrangements for supply and repair of spectacles are quite
satisfactory.
Referral following vision screening has been instituted but
it is too early yet to comment on the findings.
There are two points I would like to stress: —
(1) There is a large number of pre-school children attending —
this is a good thing as it means that any defects are being
picked up early. A longer time, however, has to be spent
on those little ones and I try as far as possible to have
them in the afternoons when the pressure is not so heavy.
(2) The proportion of Squints is extraordinarily high for a
school clinic — about twice as high, in fact, as in any
other clinic I work in. The numbers so far vary between
¼ — l/3rd of each clinic I work in and on a few occasions
it has been as high as ½. Although liaison is good between
here and the orthoptist at Mayesbrook, I would think that
the number of squints seen here would warrant an orthoptist
attending here once a month. I realise that it is difficult
to get an orthoptist for existing sessions and this is only
a suggestion to be considered when future arrangements
are made."