ABSTRACT
Objectives: To screen patients having senile sensorineural hearing loss [presbycusis] for the presence of age- related changes in their eyes particularly age- related macular degeneration
Method: A prospective study conducted at prince Rashid Bin Al Hassan Military hospital, Irbid Jordan between March 2016 and May 2016. Three- hundred and forty-five patients diagnosed with senile sensorineural hearing loss [Presbycusis] at the ENT clinic were referred to the ophthalmology clinic to perform comprehensive eye examination including visual acuity [VA], anterior segment examination using slit lamp biomicroscope, applanation tonometry using Goldmann applanation tonometer and dilated fundus examination using non-contact 78 diopter lens
Results: Three- hundred and forty-five patients aged between 45 and 87 years [mean 64.4 +/- 12.5 years] were included in the study. One-hundred and fifty-seven [45.8%] were females with a mean age of 62 years. The mean visual acuity was [0.6]. Arcus senilis was present in [53.6%] of patients with slight male predominance. Cataract was found in [55.9%] of patients. Pseudoexfoliative material on the anterior capsule of the lens and/or pupillary margin was found in [8.3%] of patients. Glaucoma was found in [3.2%] of patient's eyes. Age-related macular degeneration was found in [20.1%] of patients
Conclusion: Age related macular degeneration and pseudo exfoliation syndrome were present at higher frequency among patients with presbycusis. There was no increase in the frequency of arcus senilis, cataract and glaucoma among those patients