Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To interpret the responses from the multifocal electroretinography (mf ERG) in the central macula in retinal vein occlusion, and correlate it to fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual acuity. Methods: 25 patients with branch or hemi retinal vein occlusion were examined with multifocal ERG, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography and visual acuity. Previous studies have described the presence of prolonged implicit time and reduced amplitude in the mfERG of eyes with retinal vein occlusion, but in none of the previous studies has the mfERG been correlated to the degree of ischemia, retinal oedema or visual acuity. Results: In eyes with macular ischemia on the fluorescein angiography a significantly longer implicit time compared to eyes without macular ischemia (P=0.006; Mann Whitney Test) was measured. The amplitudes in the first order kernel responses in the ischemic eyes were more reduced (P=0.04; Mann Whitney Test), and the amplitudes in the central macula correlated well with visual acuity (P=0.006; Pearson correlation). There was no correlation between the degree of retinal thickening as measured by OCT and the mfERG responses. Conclusions: Macular ischemia as measured by fluoresceinangiography correlates well with the prolonged implicit time on the first order kernel in the mfERG, but no correlation was detected between the responses in mfERG and the OCT findings. Further investigations will demonstrate if this can be used as a prognostic instrument in the selection of patients, who will most likely benefit from future treatments.
Keywords: electroretinography: clinical • vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease