Purpose: The aim of this study is to find any association between age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and sensory neural hearing loss (SNHL).

Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 46 patients having at least one eye with ARMD were compared with 46 age matched healthy controls. Retinal status were evaluated by clinical examination, fluorescein angiography (F/A) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in cases. Audio-logic status were evaluated by otoscopy, pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech recognition test (SRT), speech discrimination score (SDS), tympanometry, reflex tests and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in both groups.

Results: Findings showed an association between ARMD and SNHL (P=0.009) primarily disturbing high frequencies progressing toward low and finally all frequencies. The most descend in all frequencies were encountered in exudative types and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) patterns that supports an association between late ARMD with SRT and SDS. In ABR the latency time of wave I (indicating cochlear damage) and wave IV significantly prolonged in cases of ARMD than controls (P=0.034 and 0.022 respectively).

Conclusion: This study showed an association between ARMD and SNHL especially in high and low frequencies supporting the hypothesis of a common role possibly due to melanin dysfunction in both disorders.