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Abstract #18460 Published in IGR 3-3
Electrophysiological approaches for early detection of glaucoma
Bach MEuropean Journal of Ophthalmology 2001; 11: Suppl 2 S41-S49
PURPOSE: While elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for glaucoma, only about 1% of patients with 25 mmHg develop the condition each year. Since a sizeable proportion of the ganglion cells are already lost when visual field losses become apparent, the aim is to identify patients with elevated IOP in whom glaucoma damage is incipient before visual field changes occur. METHODS: This report concerns early diagnosis of glaucoma with electrophysiological techniques, rather than with monitoring the disease using various available psychophysical and morphological methods. Visual electrophysiology offers a wide range of tools for assessing function layer-by-layer along the visual pathway. Their clinical value for early detection of glaucoma will be discussed. The pattern electroretinogram (PERG), a direct functional indicator of retinal ganglion cell function, is markedly affected by glaucoma, and in longitudinal studies, PERG correctly indicated eyes at risk before manifest glaucoma occurs. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, this report concentrates on PERG. Less proven, but promising measures such as the 'photopic negative response', motion visually evoked potential (VEP), and multifocal VEP are also touched upon.
Dr M. Bach, Electrophysiology Laboratory, Universitäts-Augenklinik, Freiburg, Germany. bach@uni-freiburg.de
Classification:
6.7 Electro-ophthalmodiagnosis (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)