In the introduction, Gardiner points out that this 130-page manual is directed mainly at community physicians, school nurses, pediatricians, and teachers. This is accurate, as the material presented is not overly complicated, and ophthalmic jargon is not used.
There are some English terms used that the American reader may find difficult. For example, ophthalmic optician is used to denote an optometrist, chinks means openings, torch is used to denote light, and draught is used to mean draft. Certain words are spelled in the English style, eg, favour, tumour, colour, paediatrician, programme, learnt, anaesthetic, sceptical, and anaemia, but these should cause little problem to the reader.
The text reviews the structure and function of the visual system, vision in early childhood, optics and refraction, squints (strabismus), ophthalmic services for children, and visual development of the handicapped child. The text is written so that it can be understood by the interested primary