Hearing loss associated with ocular pseudoexfoliation syndrome

ABSTRACT

To investigate the type and degree of hearing loss in a group of patients with ocular pseudoexfoliation. Two groups of patients were included prospectively in the present study. The study group consisted of 60 patients of both genders, aged between 55 and 80 years [mean age 67.8 years] who were identified to have pseudoexfoliation in one or both eyes on routine ophthalmic clinical examination at Princess Haya Bent Al-Hussein Military Hospital in Aqaba. The control group consisted of 30 healthy individuals matched for age and gender [mean age 56.9 years]. All participants underwent full ophthalmological and audiological assessments. Normal hearing threshold levels ranging between 10-25 decibels were found in 12 [20%] patients. Moderate sensori-neural hearing loss ranging between 50-70 decibels was found in 15 [25%] patients, high frequency sensori-neural hearing loss in the frequency range above Skilohertz was found in 10 [16.7%] patients, and severe sensori-neural hearing loss ranging between 70-95 decibels hearing level was found in 23 [38.3%] patients. There is evidence of significant association between ocular pseudoexfoliation and sensori-neural hearing loss