Elif K. Celik, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Dıskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Ankara, Turkey
Mutlu Acar, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Health Sciences Dıskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Kemal Keseroglu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Sumeyra Doluoglu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara. Turkey
Omer Bayir, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara. Turkey
Murad Mutlu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara. Turkey
Guleser Saylam, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara. Turkey
Objective: The objective of the study is to compare the optic coherence tomography (OCT) parameters of the healthy and affected sides of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and to investigate the relationships between these and the improvement in hearing levels. Methods: A bilateral eye evaluation of patients diagnosed with ISSNHL was performed with OCT. The ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retina nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness values were recorded and the differences between the two eyes were examined. Results: An evaluation was made of 39 patients with a mean age of 44.82 ± 14.90 years. The RNFL thickness of the eyes was determined to be mean 89.87 ± 3.65 μm on the affected side and 103.87 ± 3.98 μm on the healthy control side (p = 0.0001). The mean GCC was determined to be mean 90.46 ± 3.49 μm on the affected side and 103.77 ± 3.96 μm on the healthy control side (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: A statistically significant difference was observed between the healthy and affected eyes of patients with ISSNHL with respect to mean GCC and mean RNFL thickness. OCT could be a useful technique for measuring this neural degeneration.
Keywords: Ganglion cell complex. Retinal nerve fiber layer. Optic Coherence Tomography. Sudden hearing loss.