RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Changes of cone electroretinograms to colour flash stimuli after successful retinal detachment surgery JF British Journal of Ophthalmology JO Br J Ophthalmol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 410 OP 413 DO 10.1136/bjo.85.4.410 VO 85 IS 4 A1 M Hayashi A1 S Yamamoto YR 2001 UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/85/4/410.abstract AB AIM To examine the changes in the short wavelength (S) and mixed long (L) and middle (M) wavelength sensitive cone (L,M-cone) electroretinograms (ERGs) after successful retinal detachment surgery. METHODS Cone ERGs elicited by different colour flashes were recorded from 19 eyes with unilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated successfully by conventional buckling surgery. Ganzfeld colour flashes on a bright white background were used to elicit S-cone and L,M-cone ERGs. The ratio (operated eye/fellow eye) of the S-cone b-wave elicited by a 450 nm stimulus and the ratio (operated eye/fellow eye) of the L,M-cone b-wave elicited by a 633 nm stimulus were evaluated preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS Preoperatively, no significant difference was observed between the ratio of the S-cone ERG amplitudes and the ratio of the L,M-cone ERG amplitudes. Postoperatively, the ratio of the L,M-cone ERGs increased significantly over the preoperative value (p=0.001) but the ratio of the S-cone ERG did not improve. There were significant differences between the ratios of the S-cone and the L,M-cone ERGs at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The postoperative recovery of the S-cone ERG was significantly greater in eyes treated within 4 weeks after the onset of the detachment than in eyes treated later than 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the impairment of the L,M-cone system caused by retinal detachment may be reversible. However, the S-cone system may have more profound permanent damage.