title: Hearing loss and phacoemulsification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the acoustic spectra of currently used phacoemulsification units and to contrast phacoemulsification-generated acoustic spectra with representative audiograms of common types of sensorineural hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The acoustic spectra of 3 phacoemulsification systems (Alcon Series 20,000 Legacy, Storz Millennium, and AMO Diplomax) were recorded in an acoustically soundproofed room using a Roland VS-880 Digital Studio Workstation and analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 35660A Dynamic Signal Analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phacoemulsification handpiece-generated harmonic overtones produced during ultrasound mode (6.0, 12.0, and 18.8 kHz for the 20,000 Legacy and Diplomax; 7.0 and 14.2 kHz for the Millennium) were outside the range of minimal decibel loss in individuals with hearing loss. Supplemental, low-frequency, console-generated tones produced during ultrasound mode (0.4 to 2.0 kHz for the Diplomax; 0. 1 to 1.5 kHz for the Millennium) were within the range of minimal decibel loss in individuals with hearing loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phacoemulsification systems with console-generated, low-frequency tones were audible to ophthalmologists with common types of sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology (Ten Hulzen, Erie), Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ten Hulzen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Erie
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fabry
mesh_terms: D001299:Audiometry; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity