The occurrence of congenital cataract in western Sweden.

PURPOSE: To estimate the occurrence of congenital cataract in a Nordic country.

METHODS

In 1980, we constructed a database in the Department of Ophthalmology, Göteborg University, containing basic data from all cases in western Sweden diagnosed with congenital cataract. By collecting and processing these data from 1980 onwards, we hoped to improve the management of congenital cataract treatment and to optimize the outcome of the treatment.

RESULTS

In this study, the incidence of congenital cataract in the four western counties of Sweden was evaluated. The occurrence rate of all cases with congenital cataract during the study period was 36 cases per 100,000. The occurrence rate for dense bilateral and all unilateral cases were both 14 per 10,0000 each.

CONCLUSION

There were no time-related changes in incidence of congenital cataract from 1980 until today, although there was a large variation in the yearly incidence.