Prognostics in connatal cataract

An investigation into the causes of blindness in the Netherlands made by one of us (J.S.K.) has confirmed the assumption that connatal cataract is one of the main blinding causes in the Netherlands.Of 4,300 known blind persons, 197 were blind following bilateral operation for connatal cataract, i.e., 4.6%. Of these, 75 were children (up to the age of 18) and 122 were adults. These 75 children form approximately 10% of all the blind children in the Netherlands.A visual acuity of 5/60 or less is taken to indicate blindness in children. The upper limit for partial sightedness in children is taken as 3/10.The aim of the present study was to establish, if possible, the cause(s) of blindness or partial sightedness in those cases of connatal cataract in which the operations were apparently technically well performed, and to outline a method indicating the prognosis of the ultimate visual outcome.