rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:287-290 doi:10.1136/bjo.85.3.287
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Reduced amplitude and delayed latency in foveal response of multifocal electroretinogram in early age related macular degeneration

  1. Jodie Lia,
  2. Mark O M Tsoa,b,
  3. Tim T Lama
  1. aDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, bDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
  1. Tim T Lam, Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute/USC, 1355 San Pablo Street, DVRC 307, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USAtlam{at}usc.edu
  • Accepted 18 September 2000

Abstract

AIM To explore the use of multifocal electroretinograms (MERG) in detecting early changes in age related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHOD 15 pre-AMD or early AMD eyes showing retinal drusen or irregular fundus pigmentation with window defects by fluorescein angiography (FA) and mildly decreased visual acuity were examined and compared with their asymptomatic fellow eyes. 20 age matched normal eyes were included as controls. MERG was recorded by a Veris system (version 3.0) using a 103 hexagon stimulus and 218 second total recording time per eye. The first order kernel was used to calculate amplitudes and latencies in three configurations: the nasal and the temporal areas, the superior and the inferior areas, and six concentric rings centred on the fovea.

RESULTS There were no significant differences in the amplitudes and the latencies between the different regions (nasal versus temporal and superior versus inferior) of the retina as well as between the different groups of eyes (normal, pre-AMD or early AMD, and the asymptomatic fellow eyes) in each region. Using the concentric configuration, the foveal amplitude of pre-AMD or early AMD eyes was significantly suppressed when compared with the age matched control group and their average latency was longer in the fovea than in outer rings and significantly prolonged when compared with the normal control group. Similar changes in amplitude and latency were also observed in the asymptomatic fellow eyes.

CONCLUSION Significant abnormality in the foveal amplitude and the foveal latency of MERG could be detected in pre-AMD or early AMD eyes as well as their asymptomatic contralateral eyes, suggesting MERG as a sensitive tool in detecting early foveal abnormalities in AMD.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content


    Free trial
    Individuals may register for a free 60 day online trial to all content.

    Free archive
    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.