Claud Worth

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Claud Worth
Born1869
Died1936
NationalityBritish
Known forOphthalmologist
writer
Master Mariner

Claud Alley Worth FRCS (1869–1936) was a British ophthalmologist,[1][2] inventor of the Worth 4 dot test and Worth's Ambyloscope,[2][3] a pioneer in the orthoptic treatment of squint,[2][4] a master mariner[2] and an established author on the subjects of ophthalmology and sailing.[5][6]

Early life[edit]

Claud Alley Worth was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire in 1869, the son of Thomas Mordaunt Worth, scion of an ancient Lincolnshire family,[2] and Frances Charlotte (née Alley).[7] He was educated at Bedford Modern School, between 1884 and 1887,[8] and St Bartholomew's Hospital.[2] He qualified as MRCS and LRCP in 1893 and was elected FRCS in 1898.[2][9]

Career[edit]

Worth began the study of ophthalmology under Henry Power and Bowater Vernon at St Bartholomew's Hospital and in 1906 joined the staff of Moorfields.[2] He was, for many years, ophthalmic surgeon to the West Ham Hospital in the East End of London.[2]

Worth gained fame in two diverse areas of specialisation: the management of childhood squint[10] and amblyopia, and the sailing and navigation of small yachts.[2][11][12][13] His inventiveness endures, as demonstrated by Worth's 4 dot test and later versions of his original amblyoscope.[2][3][9][14]

Worth's name and books were also familiar to sailors of small yachts.[2][11] He was 'deeply knowledgeable about currents, harbours and all aspects of seamanship'.[2][11] He was president of the Little Ship Club, Vice-Commodore of the Royal Cruising Club and a Master mariner.[2][11]

Personal life[edit]

Worth married Janet Duncan Ritchie in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire in 1906.[15] He died in Falmouth, Cornwall, on 24 June 1936 and was survived by his wife and a son.[2]

Publications (selected)[edit]

  • 1939: Worth's Squint; 7th ed. by F. Bernard Chavasse. Baillière & Co.
  • 1950: Worth and Chavasse's Squint; 8th ed. by T. Keith Lyle. Baillière, Tindall & Cox
  • 1959: Worth and Chavasse's Squint; 9th ed. by T. Keith Lyle and G. J. O. Bridgeman. Baillière, Tindall & Cox

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Worth, Claud, (died 24 June 1936), Consulting Surgeon to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital (Moorfields); Consulting Ophthalmic Surgeon to Queen Mary's Hospital". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U219504. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "CLAUD WORTH". BMJ. 20 (9): 558–559. 1936. doi:10.1136/bjo.20.9.558. S2CID 220003358. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b Stedman, Thomas Lathrop (2005). Stedman's Medical Eponyms. ISBN 9780781754439. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ^ Faber, Jan-Tjeerd De (18 May 2006). 29th European Strabismological Association Meeting. ISBN 9780203970775. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Results for 'au:Worth, Claud Alley,' [WorldCat.org]". worldcat.org. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Important Ophthalmology Books of the 20th Century – Thompson & Blanchard". uiowa.edu. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  7. ^ Claud Alley Worth. Select England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975
  8. ^ School of the Black and Red, A History of Bedford Modern School, A.G. Underwood (1981), Updated 2010
  9. ^ a b Knapp, Arnold (1 November 1936). "JAMA Network – JAMA Ophthalmology – CLAUD WORTH, M.D". Archives of Ophthalmology. 16 (5): 862–863. doi:10.1001/archopht.1936.00840230142014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  10. ^ Robert Hilfer, S.; Sheffield, Joel B. (6 December 2012). Development of Order in the Visual System. ISBN 9781461249146. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d "BIPOSA – claud worth". biposa.org. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  12. ^ Barry, Susan R. (26 May 2009). Fixing My Gaze. ISBN 9780786744749. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  13. ^ Turner, R. S. (14 July 2014). In the Eye's Mind. ISBN 9781400863815. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  14. ^ Garg, Ashok; Alio, Jorge L. (June 2011). Surgical Techniques in Ophthalmology. ISBN 9789380704241. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  15. ^ England & Wales, Free BMD Marriage Index, 1837–1915