Abstract
Purpose::
To analyze the electroretinographic findings associated with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Methods::
Twenty-two patients (22 eyes) with CRVO underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation, fluorescein angiography, and standard flash electroretinography (ERG) according to the protocol of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV). None of these patients had neovascular complications or any treatment before the ERG examination.
Results::
ERG findings included: reduced scotopic b-wave amplitudes with delayed implicit times (14 eyes, 63.6%), reduced photopic b-wave amplitudes with delayed implicit times (8 eyes, 36.4%), reduced oscillatory potentials (14 eyes, 63.6%), delayed 30-Hz flicker b-wave implicit times (15 eyes, 68.2%), markedly decreased b/a-wave ratio (8 eyes, 36.4%). ERG also disclosed ischemic CRVO in 4 eyes (18.2%) with clinical and fluorescein angiographic findings suggestive of nonischemic CRVO. Parameters significantly associated with ischemic CRVO were the amplitude of ERG response, b/a-wave ratio, and 30-Hz flicker implicit time.
Conclusions::
Electroretinography is useful to evaluate the severity and extent of retinal ischemia in patients with CRVO. Parameters based on amplitude of ERG response, b/a-wave ratio, and 30-Hz flicker implicit time are effective predictors of neovascular complications.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • ischemia • electroretinography: clinical