Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with age-related hearing loss

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To perform retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) using Optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Sixty-five patients with ARHL and 36 healthy controls were included in this prospective study. Patients with ARHL were divided into two groups—one with mild (33 patients) and one with moderate (32 patients) impairment. A complete ophthalmological examination was applied to all subjects and included best-corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, Goldmann applanation tonometer, visual field testing and dilated fundus examination. The RNFL thicknesses of all participants was measured using an OCT device. Pure tone audiometry tests were performedon the patients using headphones and AC40 audiometry in a silent cabin. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.39, 70.55 and 71.22 in the control, mild and moderate hearing loss groups, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between the control group and patients with moderate ARHL, between inferior quadrant thicknesses(p=0.011) and between mean RNFL thicknesses(p=0.025). The superior, nasal and temporal quadrant RNFL thicknesses were similar acrossthe whole study group, with no statistically significant difference (p values: 0.104, 0.650, 0.470,respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The average RNFL was significantly thinner in the patients with moderate ARHL compared to the controls. As age and the degree of hearing loss increases, RNFL thicknesses decreases.

Keywords

• age-related hearing loss
• aging
• optical coherence tomography
• retinal nerve fibre layer thickness.