Posters

Evaluation of the relationship between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and hearing condition

Poster Details

First Author: M.Davari IRAN

Co Author(s):    G. Karimi   H. Gheytasi   E. Davari              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Background and Aim: Increasing the age of population in many countries, resulting in improved quality of life and medical sciences has led to an increased incidence of age-related, AMD is one of the diseases that most commonly causes irreversible central vision loss in old age is over 50 and may be related to other age-related phenomena such as changes in hearing. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with AMD, to diagnose early stage of AMD.

Setting:

Birjand Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Centre, Ophthalmology Department. Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

Methods:

In this case-control study, Hearing Condition of 75 patients with AMD were compared with 75 subjects without AMD that were matched for age. Data were analyzed using Independent t and Chi-Square Tests. According to the Audiogram index, the patients were set to three “normal”, “unilateral sensor-neural hearing loss” and “bilateral sensor-neural hearing” parts. 42 of the all patients were in the normal part so that the 3 of them (1.9%) were as case group and the rest (39 patients, 25, 9%) were as control group. The unilateral sensor-neural hearing parts contained 10 patients which were belonged to the control group.

Results:

In our study the frequency of hearing loss in case group was 96%(72 of 75) vs. 48%(36 of 75) in control group which shows significant difference (p<0,05). The frequency of hearing loss in both groups was increased, by increasing the age until the age 80 years old. There was no difference in the frequency of hearing loss in patients with AMD of various age ranges.

Conclusions:

According to our results the association between aged-related hearing loss and AMD is high. Although the frequency of hearing loss in patients with AMD shows significant difference in various age ranges. Therefore it is necessary for all patients over 50 years old with hearing loss and having age-related hearing loss pattern in their PTA testing, to be referred to ophthalmologist in order to recognize AMD disease in its early stage and start the treatment.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE