[Assessment of foveal function in eyes of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration before and after argon laser treatment]. / Ocena funkcji dolka w oczach z wysiekowa postacia zwyrodnienia plamki zwiazanego z wiekiem pacjentów przed i po leczeniu laserem argonowym.

PURPOSE: 1. Can foveal cone electroretinogram (FCERG) be a useful diagnostic test in evaluation of efficacy of argon laser treatment in eyes with exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? 2. Comparison of FCERG with visual acuity, static perimetry and fluorescein angiography results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: FCERGs were recorded from 30 eyes with mean visual acuity 0.6 (Snellen Table) of 20 patients (mean age: 61 years) with wet AMD. The fovea was stimulated with 5-degree flickering light spot (f = 31.25 Hz), surrounded by a 20-degree annulus of intensive steady retinali illuminance. FCERGs were recorded and analysed in amplitude according to the computer-aided method recently put in practice in our laboratory. FCERGs were obtained twice for each AMD patients: before and 3 months after argon laser treatment. Electrophysiological data were also compared with the results of fluorescein angiography, visual acuity and static perimetry. RESULTS: In the group of patients with wet AMD, significant increase of FCERG amplitude (p < 0.001) after laser treatment was obtained in group I (33% of analysed eyes) and there were mainly patients with extrafoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Significant decrease of FCERG amplitude (p < 0.01) was obtained in group II (67% of analysed eyes). These were mainly patients with subfoveal CNV and also with extrafoveal CNV. In both groups after laser treatment we did not receive significant changes in visual acuity and macular perimetric mean sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that foveal cone ERG can be a useful, independent from fluorescein angiography, test for objective evaluation of efficacy of argon laser treatment in patients with wet AMD, opposite to visual acuity and static perimetry (macula threshold) examinations. FCERG probably indicates patients with better or worse prognosis.

[Negative-type flash electroretinogram]. / Negatywny elektroretinogram blyskowy.

The authors explain the entity of the negative-type flash electroretinogram (negative ERG), its morphology and origin. They also describe some retinal diseases and syndromes with this type of ERG. On the basis of the literature and own experiences the authors emphasize its diagnostic and prognostic value.

[Oscillatory potentials in electroretinographic evaluation of retinal function in insulin-dependent diabetics without retinopathy]. / Potencjaly oscylacyjne w elektroretinograficznej ocenie funkcji siatkówki u pacjentów z cukrzyca insulinozalezna bez objawów retinopatii.

PURPOSE: Can oscillatory potentials be a useful method for detection of retinal dysfunction in insulin-dependent diabetics without retinopathy? MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study scotopic oscillatory potentials (OPs) were obtained in 35 subjects (70 eyes) with insulin-dependent diabetes without retinopathy (mean disease duration--5 years) and in 15 healthy subjects (30 eyes). This examination was performed according to the recommendations of the International Society of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV). The oscillatory potentials were extracted from the maximal combined response by high-pass filtering. We analysed amplitude and peak-latencies of the first three electroretinographic oscillatory potentials O1, O2, O3, index of wavelets [sum of amplitudes (O1 + O2 + O3)] and compared with the results of the control group. RESULTS: In group of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes without retinopathy, we received statistically significant reduction of amplitude O1 (p < 0.003) and index of wavelets (p < 0.04). Reduced amplitude O1 was obtained in 10%, index of wavelets in 31.4% of analysed eyes. We didn't observe statistically significant changes in amplitudes O2, O3 and latencies O1, O2, O3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that retinal dysfunction is present in insulin-dependent diabetics without retinopathy 5 years after onset of the disease. The sum of amplitudes (O1 + O2 + O3) was the most sensitive parameter of retinal abnormalities. It seems reasonable to have more frequent ophthalmological examination of the diabetics with abnormal oscillatory potentials.

[Implantation of posterior chamber lenses with trans-scleral fixation]. / Wszczepy soczewek tylnokomorowych mocowanych do twardówki.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is the presentation of our experiences in implantations of posterior chamber lenses with transscleral fixation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The surgery was performed in 66 patients (66 eyes) using modified technique described by Lindquist et al. Primary implantations were performed in 53% subjects, in the remaining secondary implantations. RESULTS: After surgery we achieved visual acuity improvement in 80.3%, good visual acuity (0.5-1.0) in 68.4% of subjects. The main postoperative complications were: deformation of the pupil and decompensation of corneal endothelium. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of posterior chamber lenses with transscleral fixation is preferable (alternatively for anterior chamber lenses) in young patients as well as in subjects with glaucoma, elevated intraocular pressure, iris coloboma and corneal problems.

[Foveal electroretinogram: its application in the diagnosis of macular diseases. Preliminary report]. / Elektroretinogram dolkowy--zastosowanie w diagnostyce chorób plamki. Doniesienie wstepne.

PURPOSE: To present difficult method of recording and analysis of the Foveal Cone Electroretinogram (FCERG, a type of focal ERG) for evaluation of foveal cone function in healthy subjects and patients with different macular diseases. The FCERG signal is of great importance in diagnosis of these diseases because the full-field ERG is dominated by the extrafoveal cones activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study FCERGs were obtained in 90 healthy subjects (90 normal eyes), several with known macular diseases and subjects with optic neuritis and suspected maculopathy. The fovea was stimulated with a 5-degree flickering light spot surrounded by a 20-degree annulus of steady retinal illuminace. The stimulus was applied to the eye with the use of a hand-held stimulator-ophthalmoscope. FCERG signals were analysed by means of Fast Fourier Transformation method. RESULTS: Mean FCERG amplitudes, phase and standard deviation (SD) values were established in 3 control groups of different age. There was in decrease in amplitude of FCERGs with age, which is a agreement with literature data. In this study significant abnormalities of the FCERG recordings are illustrated in some cases of known macular diseases. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary clinical investigations manifest the value of the FCERGs in objective evaluations of macular diseases undetectable with conventional electroretinography.