Purpose: To determine the prevalence of glaucoma in adults 40 years of age or older in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This stratified random-sampling cross-sectional population survey was performed on residents of Tehran, the capital of Iran, aged 40 years and older in the year 2001. Refraction, best-corrected visual acuity, slitlamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, funduscopy, and gonioscopy were performed in all subjects. Automated perimetry was performed in selected cases. Results: Out of 4418 sampled subjects, 2184 individuals (49.4) participated in the survey. Eventually data from 2160 individuals including 814 (38) male and 1346 (62) female subjects with mean age of 55.1±10.2 (range 40-92) years were analyzed. The overall prevalence of glaucoma was 1.44 (95 confidence interval, 0.94-1.94) including primary open angle glaucoma 0.46, chronic angle closure glaucoma 0.33, normal tension glaucoma 0.28, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma 0.23, and other types of glaucoma 0.14. More than 80 of affected subjects were unaware of their condition. Conclusion: The prevalence of glaucoma in adults 40 years of age or older in Tehran is 1.44, which is in the lower range reported in other populations. The large majority of cases are unaware of their condition
