gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Colour vision disturbances in patients with primary tinnitus

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author A. Schröder - Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Hanover
  • C. Schulze - Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Hanover
  • F. Rüfer - Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Hanover
  • M. Meyer - Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Hanover
  • B. Schwab - Department of ENT, Medical School of Hanover
  • C. Erb - Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Hanover

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogSA.12.04

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog381.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Schröder et al.
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Outline

Text

Objective

In a previous study, patients with sudden hearing loss developed an acquired colour vision disturbance. The object of the present study was to test the colour vision of patients with chronical tinnitus.

Methods

Thirty patients (f:m=16:14, age: 18-69 years) with chronical tinnitus were included and compared with twenty age-related controls (f:m=11:9). Exlusion criteria were eye and general diseases. Beside the ophthalmological examinations (visual acuity, refraction, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp and fundus examination) the colour-vision was tested by the colour-arrangement test Roth 28-hue (E) desaturated monocularly under standard conditions: The background used was black cardboard, illuminated by two Osram fluorescent lamps (L36W/12LDL Daylight) providing 2000 lux at the test table.

Results

Ophthalmological examination in all subjects was without pathological findings. The patients with tinnitus had a significantly higher mean error score (median ± mean absolute deviation: 117±71.0; Mann-Whitney-U-Test: p<0.01) than did the control group (median ± mean absolute deviation: 48.0±31.5) in the colour-arrangement test. A particular colour axis (blue-yellow or red-green) was not found.

Conclusions

Primary tinnitus is associated with a disturbed microcirculation which could be responsible for the acquired colour vision disturbances. This has to be taken into account in colour vision testing of ocular diseases.