Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the optic nerve head component (ONHC) of the multifocal ERG (mf–ERG) in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy but with clinical symptoms of peripheral nerve neuropathy.
Methods: :
Using mf–ERG the ganglion cell generated ONHC was extracted. The recordings were performed using a Burian Allen corneal bipolar electrode together with a VerisTM Science 5.10 diagnostic system. The display of 103 hexagon’s were centered in the pupil and the fixations checked by a videocamera.
The registered potentials were compared with a control group of 10 age matched diabetic patients, without signs of diabetic retinopathy and no symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
All patients had normal visual acuity, IOP and no sign of diabetic retinal changes.
Results: :
All patients with peripheral neuropathy showed abnormal ONHC. None of the diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy in the contol group presented comparable abnormalities. The ONHC from a patient with optic nerve damage due to multiple sclerosis and a registration of the ONHC from a patient with glaucoma is presented for comparison .
Conclusions: :
This paper presents evidence of optic nerve affection in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy although no diabetic abnormalities was found employing standard retinal fundus photo.
Keywords: electroretinography: clinical • diabetic retinopathy • ganglion cells