Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study the presence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PXF) syndrome and its correlation with other ophthalmic findings.

Methods: A total of 55 patients with PXF and 50 age-matched and sex-matched normal controls were subjected to complete ophthalmological and audiological evaluation. The degree of hearing loss was compared between the two groups and correlated with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. The independent-student t test, chi –square test, Fischer exact test Z test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: A total of 77patients among 105 patients (73%) had sensorineural hearing loss with pseudoexfoliation patients accounting for 62% and controls for 38%. Among the pseudoexfoliation group, 7  had normal hearing threshold level, 42 had mild SNHL, 6 had severe SNHL, while in the control group 21 had normal hearing threshold levels, 26 had mild degree of SNHL, 2 had severe degree of SNHL and 1 patient had profound degree of SNHL. When the hearing thresholds in decibels were compared between the two groups at frequencies 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz using pure tone audiometry, the difference was statistically significant at all frequencies. Further there was no significant difference between the hearing thresholds of patients that had pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and those that had pseudoexfoliation alone.

Conclusion: The prevalence and severity of SNHL increases in cases of PXF compared with age-matched controls. This is not affected by presence or absence of glaucoma. This confirms the systemic nature of the disease and may have an implication on the treatment of these patients with regards to communication during the treatment. Hence it may become important  to screen these patients for sensorineural hearing loss.

Keywords: Pseudoexfliation, sensorineural hearing loss, glaucoma.

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Dr Aamina Shah

GMC Srinagar