Introduction: Both primary osteoarthritis (OA) and age-related macular degeneration
(AMD) cause disability in old people. This study aimed to detect the relation between
primary osteoarthritis and age-related macular degeneration in a sample of geriatric
Egyptian population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 222 primary OA patients. Medical history,
musculoskeletal examination, body mass index (BMI) calculation, and ophthalmological
examination, radiographs of anteroposterior view and weight-bearing position for both hips
and both knees and posteroanterior view for hands, Kellgren and Lawrence grading score for
radiological severity of OA, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fundus fluorescence
angiography FFA for evaluation of the macula were done. AMD was classified into early,
intermediate, and late. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: Forty-six OA patients had AMD [19 cases had early, 15 cases had intermediate and
12 cases with late (7 neovascular (NV) and 5 geographic atrophy (GA))]. There was
a significant correlation between AMD stages and OA grading score. There were significant
differences between OA patient with AMD and those without AMD regarding age, disease
duration, disease severity, family history of OA, daily mild exercise and calcium, and vitamin
D intake. Multivariable analysis revealed that older age, more severe OA, low exercise and
less calcium and vitamin D intake were considered independent risk factors for AMD
development in primary OA.
Conclusion: Primary OA patients are more liable to AMD due to common risk factors and
related pathogenesis. Ophthalmological follow up of those patients is recommended.