Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the hearing status of patients with keratoconus.

METHODS: This case-control study, conducted between November 2018 and April 2019, included 56 subjects (25 males, 31 females; mean age 31.2±7.5 years; range, 18 to 49 years) 23 of whom (12 males, 11 females; mean age 31.6±7.8 years, 20 to 46 years) were diagnosed with keratoconus while 33 (13 males, 20 females; mean age 30.8±4.4 years; range, 18 to 49 years) had no eye disease (control group). Pure tone audiometry, immitansmetric measurements, and auditory brainstem response tests were performed in all patients. Audiological test results of the groups were compared.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the age and gender distribution of the groups (p=0.336 and p=0.125, respectively). In the control group, the acoustic reflex value of 2,000 Hz was significantly higher than the keratoconus group (p=0.030; p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the other acoustic reflex measurements of the groups (all p values >0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the I-III, III-V, and I-V wave latencies in the auditory brainstem response test measurements (all p values >0.05).

CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, hearing loss is not expected in patients with keratoconus. Therefore, we believe that there is no need for a routine hearing examination in such patients. Long-term follow-up studies with larger sample sizes are needed.