Progressive optic neuropathy and sensorineural hearing loss due to chronic glue sniffing

Abstract

A 27-year-old male developed cerebral and cerebellar atrophy over a period of five years of extensive glue sniffing. He also developed bilateral optic atrophy with blindness and severe sensorineural hearing loss. Investigation failed to show any other cause for the visual or hearing loss. Peripheral polyneuropathy and central nervous system damage may follow chronic toluene toxicity, but these auditory and visual complications have not previously been described.