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Abstract #19004 Published in IGR 3-1
The a-wave of the dark adapted electroretinogram in glaucomas: are photoreceptors affected?
Velten IM; Korth M; Horn FKBritish Journal of Ophthalmology 2001; 85: 397-402
AIMS: To evaluate whether the a-wave of the dark adapted flash electroretinogram (ERG) is affected by glaucomatous damage. METHODS: ERGs were recorded in 20 patients (aged 33-65 years) with advanced glaucomas (primary and secondary open angle and low tension glaucomas) and 20 normals using a ganzfeld stimulus. After 30 minutes of dark adaptation and pupil dilatation to at least 7.5 mm in diameter, luminance response functions were obtained presenting white flashes of increasing scotopic luminance (the highest flash intensity being 9.4 cd/s/m2, the lowest being 5.75 log units below it) with an interflash interval of five seconds. For each scotopic luminance, the responses of four flashes were averaged. The a-wave's amplitude was measured at 10, 11, and 12 msec. Within the glaucoma group, correlations between the interocular differences of the a-wave's amplitude and the mean deviation of a static perimetry (Octopus 500 Perimeter, Program G1) were computed for all flash intensities. Between normals and glaucomas, the a-wave's amplitude was compared for all flash intensities (paired t test). RESULTS: Within the glaucoma group, the interocular differences of the a-wave's amplitudes correlated significantly with the differences of the MD for flash intensities of 9.4, 5.3, 1.7, and 0.5 cd/s/m2. The a-wave's amplitude was significantly lower in the glaucoma compared with the normal group (p < 0.005) for flash intensities of 9.4 and 5.3 cd/s/m2. CONCLUSIONS: These electrophysiological results imply that also the outer retinal structures, especially the photoreceptors, may be affected by glaucomatous damage.
Dr I.M. Velten, Department of Ophthalmology and University Eye Hospital, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany. isabel.velten@augen.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Classification:
6.7 Electro-ophthalmodiagnosis (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
