OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of patients treated with antiglaucoma agents for glaucoma or ocular hypertension in France, and the cost of treatment over one year. METHODS: Prevalence was estimated using a permanent panel of subjects affiliated to a French national health insurance scheme, the EPAS panel. Patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) were identified by the prescription of antiglaucoma preparations and miotics (ATC code S01E). Chronic patients were defined as those who had been prescribed at least three boxes during the year. The three years 2001, 2002 and 2003 were studied to check the stability of estimations. The cost of treating ambulatory patients was estimated using data from the EPAS panel on consultations, specialist procedures and drug prescriptions. The cost of inpatient care over the three years 2001 to 2003 in public and private hospitals for patients with a principal diagnosis of glaucoma was estimated using PMSI data (a French system of recording hospital procedures performed on given patient groups), the French national cost study and the approved tariffs for the private sector. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence was stable over 3 years, between 1.1 to 1.2 million patients. The average age of patients was 71 years for women and 67 for men. The average cost, for social security, per patient for ambulatory care was €291 in 2003, €204 of which was for drug prescriptions. About 1.2% of patients were hospitalised and the average cost per patient was €26. In one in three cases, glaucoma surgery was accompanied by lens surgery. The total spending on treatment in 2003 was €382 million. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that glaucoma is a major eye disease. The cost of disease across three years seems to be stable.