Thyroid Dysfunction as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Wet Type Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Case-Control Study

Purpose: To investigate possible links between thyroid dysfunction and prevalence of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: The present case-control study enrolled a total number of 90 patients with wet AMD and 90 sex-, and age-matched controls through a convenient sequential sampling method. Thyroid hormones were profiled in serum assay. Statistical measures were done to compare means between groups. Results: Our findings showed a significant difference in free T4 levels between wet AMD and control groups (P = 0.002), but the mean values of total T3 and Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were similar between the two groups. In addition, there were no differences in serum lipid profile between groups. Although no significant difference in the history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia between wet AMD and control groups was found, the history of smoking was higher in controls (P = 0.039). Conclusion: Thyroid hormone abnormalities may be associated with wet AMD.