EYE DEFECTS IN CHILDREN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30055, 13 February 1963, Page 3

EYE DEFECTS IN CHILDREN

“Parents Could Be More Observant” Parents were tending to notice squints in their children's eyes, and seek the advice of an ophthalmologist, somewhat earlier than a few years ago, but some parents could be more observant in this respect, Miss K. M. Fleming, orthoptist to the Health Department in Christchurch said yesterday. "I suppose it is just that some parents can’t imagine any defect in their children,” she said. ‘‘Fortunately, the school nurses pick up these defects eventually, but with some eye conditions it is not too early to take a baby to the ophthalmologist when it is six months old.”

Miss Fleming does not have small babies referred to her clinic, however, as they would not be able to give the co-operation required in the treatment, which consists essentially of suitable eye exercises. Her youngest patients are usually between three and five. Most of the others are of primary school age, with a sprinkling of teen-agers and adults. Last year she saw nearly 3000 patients and gave a total of 3182 treatments.