Skip to main content
Log in

Sequential recording of photic and nonphotic electro-oculogram responses in patients with extensive extramacular drusen

  • Published:
Documenta Ophthalmologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

At present, no clinical electrophysiologic test defines dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium. We studied four electrophysiologic responses of the retinal pigment epithelium to compare results from three normal subjects with those from three patients with a diffuse retinal pigment epithelial disorder, extramacular drusen. We recorded the fast oscillation, hyperosmolarity response, acetazolamide response, and light peak by means of a clinical protocol in which these could be elicited consecutively. We found no significant differences between the normal subjects and patients with drusen for any of the four responses. These results suggest that retinal pigment epithelial electrophysiologic function is well maintained despite the widespread physical abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium in extramacular drusen. This combined test was well tolerated and may prove useful in characterizing other diseases involving the retinal pigment epithelium.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

RPE:

retinal pigment epithelium

References

  1. Marmor MF. Clinical electrophysiology of the retinal pigment epithelium. Doc Ophthalmol 1991; 76: 301–12.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Oakley B II, Green DG. Correlation of light-induced changes in retinal extracellular potassium concentration with the c-wave of the electroretinogram. J Neurophys 1976; 39: 1117–33.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Steinberg RH, Schmidt R, Brown KT. Intracellular responses to light from cat pigment epithelium. Origin of the electroretinogram c-wave. Nature 1970; 227: 728–30.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Steinberg RH, Linsenmeier RA, Griff ER. Three light-evoked responses of the retinal pigment epithelium. Vision Res 1983; 23: 1315–23.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Yonemura D, Kawasaki K. New approaches to ophthalmic electrodiagnosis by retinal oscillatory potential, drug-induced responses from retinal pigment epithelium and cone potential. Doc Ophthalmol 1979; 48: 168–222.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kawasaki K, Mukoh S, Yonemura D, Fujii S, Segawa Y. Acetazolamide-induced changes of the membrane potentials of the retinal pigment epithelial cell. Doc Ophthalmol 1986; 63: 375–81.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Madachi-Yamamoto S. Electrophysiological evaluation of retinal pigment epithelium for clinical use. 1. Hyperosmolarity response of the standing potential and its origin. Acta Soc Ophthalmol Jpn 1982; 86: 374–84.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mukoh S, Yonemura D, Kawasaki K. Hyperpolarization of the membrane potentials of the retinal pigment epithelial cell induced by hyperosmolarity. Origin of the hyperosmolarity response. Acta Soc Ophthalmol Jpn 1984; 88: 1492–6.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Segawa Y. Electrical responses of the retinal pigment epithelium to sodium bicarbonate.In experimental studies in animals. J Juzen Med Soc 1987; 96: 1008–21.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mori T, Marmor MF, Miyoshi K, Tazawa Y. Combined photic and non-photic electrooculographic responses in the clinical evaluation of the retinal pigment epithelium. Doc Ophthalmol 1991; 76: 315–22.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Marmor MF, Zrenner E, for the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. Standard for clinical electro-oculography. Arch Ophthalmol 1993; 111: 601–4.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Griff ER, Steinberg RH. Origin of the light peak.In vitro study of Gekko gekko. J Physiol 1982; 331: 637–52.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gallemore RP, Griff ER, Steinberg RH. Evidence in support of a photoreceptoral origin for the “light peak substance”. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1988; 29: 566–571.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shirao Y, Steinberg RH. Mechanisms of effects of small hyperosmotic gradients in chick RPE. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1987; 28: 2015–25.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gupta, L.Y., Marmor, M.F. Sequential recording of photic and nonphotic electro-oculogram responses in patients with extensive extramacular drusen. Doc Ophthalmol 88, 49–55 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01203701

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01203701

Key words

Navigation