Pediatric ocular disorders and visual handicap in Finland - what do the registers tell?

There is no published data from the last few years on the frequency of pediatric ocular disorders and visual handicap in Finland.We surveyed the registers of THL (National Institute for Health and Welfare) and statistics of Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland).The majority of visual defects are neurologic or congenital. Retinopathic lesions were reported in 11% of small premature infants. In the years from 1993 to 2011, significant abnormalities of the eye or its accessory organs were on the average registered annually in 94 liveborn infants, and the number of corresponding cancers was less than five.Ocular disorders in children are rare. They are significant because of the special attention required in everyday life.