SUMMARY
The etiologic frequency of congenital cataracts was determined at the Ophthalmology Departament of the Escola Paulista de Medicina, in the period from 01/89 to 12/90, with a total of 150 patients.
Patients were subjected to a complete ophthalmological exam, and further to clinical and laboratory exams, for a etiological elucidation. The results were analised using non-parametric statistical tests in comparing the variables, continuous and categorical.
The highest etiological frequency were the infections diseases (42,67%), specially congenita rubella with 38%.
Other etiologies of congenital cataract were the syndromes, metabolic causes, hereditary, hipertense mothers and idiopatic.