title: Prevalence of retinal diseases and their pattern in Tehran: the Tehran eye study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of retinal diseases and their pattern in Tehran through a population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2002, through a stratified random cluster sampling, 6497 citizens representing a cross-section of the population of Tehran were selected from 160 clusters. Eligible people were recruited through a door-to-door household survey in selected clusters and transferred to a clinic for an extensive eye examination and interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of retinal diseases was 8.56 per 100 (95% CI, 7.74-9.39). Acquired retinopathies (3.33 per 100) and peripheral retinal lesions (3.29 per 100) were the most common retinal diseases in our population. Cataract (12.47 per 100) was the major ocular comorbidity; high blood pressure (21.14 per 100) and diabetes mellitus (15.99 per 100) were the main systemic comorbidities among 415 patients with retinal diseases. The prevalence of low vision on the basis of best-corrected and presenting visual acuity was 0.63 and 2.87 per 100 in 415 patients with retinal disease. Two patients (0.48 per 100) were blind with corrected and presenting visual acuity. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the studied population was 0.61 per 100 (95% CI, 0.39-0.82) and age-related macular degeneration was detected in 1.95 per 100 (95% CI, 1.55-2.34) of the population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings reveal a considerable prevalence of retinal diseases in the population. The prevalence might be underestimated due to the lack of fundus photography. The findings could be considered for case finding and planning treatment programs for specific retinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Noor Vision Correction Centre, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hatef
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fotouhi
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Kazem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.forename: Kamran Hodjat
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jalali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity