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68
REPORT OF OPHTHALMIC SURGEON.
The selection of eases for Ophthalmic examination is made
partly on the results of the preliminary test of vision carried out
at routine medical inspection and partly from special cases seen
at the clinics.
Children with eye symptoms or visual defects are asked to
attend the Town Hall Clinic, where a further test under more
perfect conditions of light is made. Where there is found to be
defect sufficient to suggest the necessity for glasses, atropine
ointment is put into the eves and a small box of this ointment
with instructions for home use is given to the parent, who is
told to bring the child on the following Tuesday to see the Eye
Specialist.
On Tuesdays these cases undergo ophthalmoscopic examination.
Toward the end of the session the Optician attends and
takes measurements of the children requiring glasses and also
distributes giasses ordered to those children who were seen and
ivhom he measured the previous week.
By this arrangement the Surgeon is enabled to make a final
inspection and the suitability of the spectacles is ensured. Further,
the dual attendance of the Surgeon and Optician is a distinct
advantage in cases where questions arise as to special points in
spectacles.
Provision of Spectacles.
The cost of spectacles varies according to the lenses and
quality of frame. The average cost, however, is 6s. to 7s.
Parents are expected to pay the Optician for glasses supplied,
and in most cases they do so. In certain cases it is found parents
cannot afford to pay for the spectacles, and in such cases they
are supplied free. During the year spectacles were supplied free
to about 80 children, £24 being so expended.
In all 526 cases were submitted to refraction during the year.
Of these 359 cases were prescribed spectacles; 43 received treatment
other than by glasses, whilst in 122 cases no treatment was
considered necessary.