Claud Worth

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]

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]

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]

• 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