Evaluation of relationship between presbyopia and presbycusis in Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand, Iran, during 2014-2015

Introduction: Presbyopia and presbycusis are common disorders in aging people leading to various negative consequences, such as social problems, cognitive disorders, depression, and imbalance. The combination of vision and hearing loss has been correlated with various adverse outcomes. Regarding the adverse effect of presbyopia and presbycusis on communication skills and quality of life in individuals, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between these two sensory disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 111 patients with presbyopia referred to Ophthalmology Clinic of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand, Iran, from 1395 to 1396. The patients who met reduced visual acuity criteria were included in the study. On the other hand, the exclusion criteria were: 1) diabetes, 2) glaucoma, 3) ear infection disease, 4) kidney disease, 5) history of head injury, 6) history of ototoxicity, 7) history of ear and intracranial tumors, and 8) experience of working in noisy environments. Presbyopia and presbycusis were diagnosed with routine clinical examinations. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (Version 22.0) using the Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the study showed that 70%, 64%, and 55% of the patients in the age ranges of 45-49, 50-55, and 56-60 years old, respectively, had different visual problems. In the present study, slight hearing impairment was observed in individuals. No correlation was observed between presbyopia and presbycusis in terms of gender and place of residence (i.e., urban, rural). Moreover, there was no relationship regarding these two sensory impairments. (P<0.05). Conclusions: There was no relationship between presbyopia and presbycusis. The incidence of presbyopia was more than 50% and mild hearing impairment was observed in patients. In addition, the treatment of these disorders can prevent adverse consequences, such as cognitive impairment and falling down.