Prevalence and severity of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with exfoliation syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Exfoliation syndrome is characterized by the production and accumulation of abnormal extracellular material in many ocular and extraocular tissues. The aim of the present prospective case-control clinical study was to evaluate the effect of exfoliation syndrome on prevalence and severity of sensorineural hearing loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the study participated 94 ears of patients with unilateral or bilateral ocular exfoliation syndrome (study group) and 44 ears of individuals without the syndrome (control group). Subjects with a history of conditions affecting hearing function and patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss, glaucoma or ocular hypertension were excluded from the study. All participants underwent pure-tone audiometry with air and bone conduction. During audiometry, the eventual sensorineural hearing loss and its severity was determined for each ear, at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz (Hertz). RESULTS The mean age of participants was 74.7 years in both groups. Differences in age and gender distribution between the two groups were not statistically significant. Compared to control group, study group displayed: (1) Significantly higher prevalence rates of hearing loss at frequencies of 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz (p = 0.007). (2) More severe hearing loss at frequencies of 4000 and 8000 Hz (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The above results demonstrate an effect of exfoliation syndrome on prevalence and severity of sensorineural hearing loss. These findings verify the theory that this syndrome is not only an ocular disease, but also a systemic disorder with potential otological complications.