This Danish multicenter study was undertaken to evaluate current indications for cataract extraction and to compare the heath status among patients enlisted for cataract surgery with that reported for the background population. A consecutive sample of 290 patients from all ophthalmic hospital departments in Denmark was examined and interviewed prior to cataract extraction. The mean visual acuity in the eye enlisted for surgery was 0.17. A visual acuity of < 0.05 occurred in 11.1% and 46.7% had a visual acuity of > or = 0.05 to 0.3. Comparing these figures to other recent European studies it seems reasonable to conclude that in Denmark surgery is performed at an earlier stage of the disease. Only a few patients with no functional impairment were seen; other appropriate indications for surgery were seen for these patients. Occurrence of angina, bronchitis and prior myocardial infarction was higher in the cataract sample as compared to the random sample of Danes. The likelihood of preferring an outpatient procedure was significantly increased among younger patients, patients of better general health and among patients with better pre-operative visual acuity in eye enlisted for surgery.