Cognitive and anxiety-depressive disorders in patients with age-related macular degeneration and cataracts

Cognitive impairment and anxiety-depressive disorders in patients with age-related macular degeneration and cataract of old age are considered. 125 patients 60–74 years old suffering from age-related macular degeneration combined with cataract were examined at the Tambov branch of the interdisciplinary scientific and technical complex "Eye Microsurgery named after Academician S.N. Fedorov". 74 patients of similar age without age-related macular degeneration served as controls. Anxiety was assessed by the Spielberger – Hanin questionnaire, depressive status by the "Center for Epidemiological Studies — Depression scale". The validity of the differences was determined by the Mann – Whitney's U-criterion. It was established that among elderly patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration combined with cataract, cognitive deficits, an average level of personal anxiety, a significant specific gravity with an average level and an increased level of personal anxiety, depressive disorders, and in the control group — a low level of anxiety and the absence of generally depressive disorders. Therefore, age-related macular degeneration increases the incidence of cognitive and anxiety-depressive impairment, and patients suffering from this ophthalmic pathology need geriatric examination and correction of cognitive and anxiety-depressive impairment. In general, macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in old age and can contribute to the development of cognitive and anxiety-depressive disorders, which are practically unexplored among this contingent.