On the epidemiology of cataract in Bulgaria

Cataract prevalence in Bulgaria is a subject of current registration and of research studies. Our report deals with three basic sources: national statistics data, epidemiological study on cataract incidence, and clinical observation on risk factors. In 1985, 7.9 cataract cases per 1,000 population (over 15 years) have been registered. Cataract extractions increased from 6,972 (1980) to 8,050 (1984). Cataract prevalence study on 2.5 representative samples during the 1970 census in Bulgaria demonstrated 3.6% for urban and 2.5% for rural populations for 1 year of observation. The data showed a 10-fold increase when additional ophthalmologic examination of a given sample had been performed. The clinically based study of cataract characteristics and risk factors includes about 600 patients for a 1-year period. In this report the data according to sex and age distribution, type of cataract and the presence of systemic disease have been presented.