Aim The aim was an in‐depth exploration of uncertainty and self‐efficacy among parents of a child with congenital cataract by means of two theoretical frameworks to re‐design family care. Design A directed content analysis in accordance with Hsieh & Shannon, using Mishel's theory of uncertainty and Bandura's self‐efficacy theory. Methods Open‐ended, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 23 parents of a child with congenital cataract; six mothers, five fathers and six couples. Results In this novel study, self‐efficacy was interpreted as the ability to balance between uncertainty and acceptance. The performance accomplishment of the child and parents bridges the gap between uncertainty and acceptance by reducing uncertainty, thus constituting the level of self‐efficacy. Setbacks and complications increase uncertainty and reduce self‐efficacy, thus performance accomplishment is a mediator of self‐efficacy, while ability to master uncertainty determines the level of self‐efficacy.

Aim: Analysis of age at time of detection and surgery of dense unilateral cataract and investigation of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in a nationwide register-based cohort study, based on the routine of maternity ward eye screening.Methods: Data were derived from the Paediatric Cataract Register (PECARE). All children (n = 54) diagnosed with dense congenital unilateral cataract between January 2007 and September 2014 who had surgery before 1 year of age, and for whom 5year follow-up records were available, were included. Results:The majority, 35/54 (65%), were detected and operated on before age 6 weeks and 30/35 (86%) were referred from maternity wards. Visual acuity (VA) ≥ 0.5 (decimal, 0.3 logMAR) was found in 7/53 (13%) of the cohort at age 5 years; further, 19 children achieved VA ≥ 0.1 (decimal, 1.0 logMAR) (36%) and 19 children VA < 0.05 (decimal, 1.30 logMAR) (36%). Ten-year follow-up records were available for 17/53 (32%) children; 1/17 (6%) achieved VA ≥ 0.5 (decimal, 0.3 logMAR), 4/17 (24%) VA ≥ 0.3-<0.5 (decimal, 0.52-0.30 logMAR), 3/17 (18%) VA ≥ 0.05-0.1 (decimal, 1.30-1.0 logMAR) and 10/17 (59%) VA < 0.05 (decimal, 1.30 logMAR). Conclusion:A total of 90% of the children were detected with cataract within 100 days of birth and 80% were operated on within this period. This study showed better visual acuity in those treated for dense unilateral cataracts than previously reported in an earlier Swedish cohort study.