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1.
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd ; 225(4): 295-7, 2008 Apr.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18401797

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The presence or absence of functional changes associated with solitary, congenital, hypopigmented lesions of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) have been a matter of controversy. This case report describes retinal and functional findings in a young patient with such a lesion. METHODS: A 10-year-old Hispanic female with a solitary congential hypopigmented spot of the RPE was examined using fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, autofluorescence imaging (AF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Functional analyses were performed using the Humphrey 24 - 2 visual field, Goldmann perimetry and the multifocal ERG (mfERG). RESULTS: A small visual field defect was demonstrated on both Goldmann perimetry (I/ 2e test object) and on Humphrey 24 - 2 visual field testing (significant at the 0.5 % level for pattern deviation). The multifocal ERG response amplitudes were decreased in the corresponding area and increased in implicit time. Autofluorescence imaging showed an absence of fluorescence corresponding to the area of the lesion. OCT findings were indicative of a small amount of subretinal fluid or schisis-like changes overlying the RPE anomaly. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that solitary, albinotic spots of the RPE can be associated with visual field defects and outer retinal deficits; these may be related to impaired RPE function and/or chronic exudative changes.


Subject(s)
Albinism, Ocular/diagnosis , Electroretinography , Fluorescein Angiography , Nevus/congenital , Pigment Epithelium of Eye/abnormalities , Retinal Diseases/congenital , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Visual Field Tests , Albinism, Ocular/physiopathology , Child , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Female , Fluorescence , Humans , Nevus/diagnosis , Nevus/physiopathology , Pigment Epithelium of Eye/pathology , Pigment Epithelium of Eye/physiopathology , Retinal Diseases/diagnosis , Retinal Diseases/physiopathology
2.
Br J Ophthalmol ; 91(7): 905-7, 2007 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17301118

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess the accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in detecting damage to a hemifield, patients with hemifield defects confirmed on both static automated perimetry (SAP) and multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP) were studied. METHODS: Eyes of 40 patients with concomitant SAP and mfVEP glaucomatous loss and 25 controls underwent OCT retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), mfVEP and 24-2 SAP tests. For the mfVEP and 24-2 SAP, a hemifield was defined as abnormal based upon cluster criteria. On OCT, a hemifield was considered abnormal if one of the five clock hour sectors (3 and 9 o'clock excluded) was at <1% (red) or two were at <5% (yellow). RESULTS: Seventy seven (43%) of the hemifields were abnormal on both mfVEP and SAP tests. The OCT was abnormal for 73 (95%) of these. Only 1 (1%) of the 100 hemifields of the controls was abnormal on OCT. Sensitivity/specificity (one eye per person) was 95/98%. CONCLUSIONS: The OCT RNFL test accurately detects abnormal hemifields confirmed on both subjective and objective functional tests. Identifying abnormal hemifields with a criterion of 1 red (1%) or 2 yellow (5%) clock hours may prove useful in clinical practice.


Subject(s)
Glaucoma/diagnosis , Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Aged , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Glaucoma/pathology , Glaucoma/physiopathology , Humans , Middle Aged , Nerve Fibers/pathology , Prospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Visual Field Tests/methods , Visual Fields
3.
Br J Ophthalmol ; 90(11): 1393-7, 2006 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16899526

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation of a structural measure of the macular area (optical coherence tomography (OCT)) with two functional measures (10-2 Humphrey visual field (HVF) and multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP)) of macular function. METHODS: 55 eyes with open-angle glaucoma were enrolled. The 10-2 HVF was defined as abnormal if clusters of > or =3 points with p<5%, one of which had p<1%, were present. The mfVEP was abnormal if probability plots had > or =2 adjacent points with p<1%, or > or =3 adjacent points with p<5% and at least one of these points with p<1%. Two criteria were used for the macular OCT: (I) > or =2 sectors with p<5% or 1 sector with p<1% and (II) 1 sector with p<5%. RESULTS: 54 of the 55 eyes showed an abnormal 10-2 HVF and 50 had central mfVEP defects. The two OCT criteria resulted in sensitivities of 85% and 91%. When both functional tests showed a defect (in 49 eyes), the OCT was abnormal in 45. For the OCT the outer and inner inferior regions were the most likely to be abnormal, and both functional techniques were most abnormal in the superior hemifield. CONCLUSIONS: Good agreement exists between macular thickness and functional defects in patients with glaucoma. Study of the macular region may provide a quantitative measure for disease staging and monitoring.


Subject(s)
Glaucoma, Open-Angle/pathology , Macula Lutea/pathology , Adult , Aged , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Female , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Humans , Macula Lutea/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Visual Field Tests/instrumentation , Visual Field Tests/methods , Visual Fields
4.
Br J Ophthalmol ; 90(9): 1132-6, 2006 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16707520

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To determine the effect of glaucomatous damage on the latency of the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP). METHODS: Monocular mfVEPs were recorded from a glaucoma group (n = 50) defined by a glaucomatous disc and an abnormal visual field and a control group (n = 47). 25 patients were characterised as normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and 25 as high tension glaucoma (HTG). Monocular and interocular latency analyses of the more affected eye were obtained using custom software. RESULTS: On interocular analysis, both the HTG and NTG groups showed a statistically significant increase in mean mfVEP latency with average relative latencies and percentage of points with significant delays of 1.7 ms and 10.3% (HTG) and 1.3 ms and 8.2% (NTG) compared to -0.3 ms and 2.7% (controls). On monocular analysis, only the HTG group showed a significant increase in latency with measures of 5.7 ms and 14.6% (HTG) compared to 3.2 ms and 10.6% (NTG) and 2.1 ms and 9.6% (controls). Using the 95th percentile of a normative group as the cut off, the sensitivity ranged from 20% to 38% and the specificity from 87% to 100% with the interocular analysis providing the best discrimination, CONCLUSION: Although up to 40% of patients showed delays in the mfVEP latency, these delays were modest, on average a few milliseconds. These results differ markedly from those of a recent conventional VEP study, which reported 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and an average delay that exceeded 25 ms.


Subject(s)
Evoked Potentials, Visual , Glaucoma/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological , Glaucoma/diagnosis , Humans , Middle Aged , Reaction Time , Sensitivity and Specificity , Visual Fields
5.
Vision Res ; 45(25-26): 3244-52, 2005 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16023698

ABSTRACT

Our aim was to determine whether patients with retinitis pigmentosa show differences in L- and M-cone multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) responses that are eccentricity dependent, as has been shown for control subjects. Second, we compared the losses for mfVEPs to losses on achromatic visual field and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) measures in the patients. Monocular mfVEPs were recorded to a pattern reversing display that modulated only the L- or M-cones. Also, standard automated achromatic visual fields and mfERGs were obtained. For the control subjects, the ratio of L-cone to M-cone mfVEP amplitudes increased as a function of retinal eccentricity. For the patients, the ratio did not vary with eccentricity. For all measures, responses were least affected for the first ring (central 2.4 degrees ) and most affected for the third ring (11.6 degrees - 44.4 degrees ). For the first ring, mfERG amplitudes were more impaired than were the mfVEPs or the visual field thresholds. For most of the patients, there was local response correspondence among our measures of visual function.


Subject(s)
Evoked Potentials, Visual , Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Retinitis Pigmentosa/physiopathology , Adult , Color Perception , Electroretinography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retinitis Pigmentosa/psychology , Visual Acuity , Visual Field Tests , Visual Fields
6.
Br J Ophthalmol ; 89(3): 340-4, 2005 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15722316

ABSTRACT

AIM: To understand how refractive errors, cataracts, and fixation errors affect multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) responses. METHODS: Monocular mfVEP responses were obtained using a pattern reversal dartboard display. For the control condition, visual acuity was corrected to > or =20/20 and foveal fixation was maintained. The right eye was tested under the following conditions: simulated refractive error, simulated cataract, steady eccentric fixation, and unsteady fixation. RESULTS: No subject demonstrated significant abnormalities under control conditions. For the simulated refractive error condition, significant centrally located abnormalities were seen for all subjects. For the simulated cataract condition, significant abnormalities were found for three subjects. The steady eccentric fixation condition yielded abnormalities in both eyes for all subjects while the unsteady fixation condition yielded significant central abnormalities in the tested eye. With eccentric and unsteady fixation conditions, all subjects had at least one sector with a waveform polarity reversal. CONCLUSIONS: While the mfVEP is a useful tool for identifying local optic nerve damage or ruling out non-organic aetiology of visual field defects, factors such as uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, eccentric fixation, and unsteady fixation can produce apparent field defects on the mfVEP. With care, these problems can be correctly identified.


Subject(s)
Cataract/physiopathology , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Refractive Errors/physiopathology , Adult , Cluster Analysis , Humans , Middle Aged , Probability , Vision Disparity , Vision, Monocular
7.
Vision Res ; 44(25): 2867-74, 2004 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15380992

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate atypical multifocal ERG (mfERG) responses for patients with diseases that can affect the photoreceptors. MfERGS were obtained from seven patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), three with progressive cone dystrophy (CD) and eight with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Both first- and second-order kernel responses were analyzed. The amplitudes and implicit times of the first-order responses were compared to those obtained from age-similar controls. For the first slice of the second-order response, the root-mean-square (RMS) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each response were calculated. Achromatic visual fields were also obtained from each subject. For the three groups of patients, first-order responses with relatively large amplitudes, broad-shaped waveforms and markedly increased implicit times had non-measurable second-order responses. These responses were associated with areas of decreased visual field sensitivity. As RP, CD and DR affect the outer retina, the results are consistent with damage to the outer plexiform layer rather than damage to the inner retina.


Subject(s)
Electroretinography/methods , Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate/physiology , Retinal Diseases/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retinal Degeneration/physiopathology , Retinitis Pigmentosa/physiopathology , Visual Fields
8.
Arch Ophthalmol ; 119(9): 1291-5, 2001 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11545634

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the retinal pigment epithelial/photoreceptor complex is affected in patients with pigment dispersion syndrome and/or in patients with pigmentary glaucoma. METHODS: Electro-oculograms were recorded from patients with pigment dispersion syndrome, pigmentary glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and primary open-angle glaucoma and from control subjects. Electro-oculograms were recorded during 15 minutes of dark adaptation followed by 15 minutes of light adaptation. For each subject, dark-trough amplitudes, dark-trough latencies, light-peak amplitudes, light-peak latencies, and ratios of the light-peak amplitude to the dark-trough amplitude (Arden ratios) were calculated. RESULTS: A 1-way analysis of variance of the Arden ratios indicated significant differences among the groups of subjects. Results of a post hoc Newman-Keuls test revealed that the mean Arden ratios of patients with pigment dispersion syndrome and patients with pigmentary glaucoma were significantly lower than the mean ratios of the controls, the patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, and those with ocular hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide support for the hypothesis that the integrity of the retinal pigment epithelial/photoreceptor complex is affected in patients with pigment dispersion syndrome and in those with pigmentary glaucoma. Congenital and/or structural abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelial/photoreceptor complex should be considered when models of the etiology of pigment dispersion syndrome are proposed.


Subject(s)
Exfoliation Syndrome/complications , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/complications , Pigment Epithelium of Eye/pathology , Retinal Diseases/etiology , Adult , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Dark Adaptation , Electrooculography , Exfoliation Syndrome/physiopathology , Female , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ocular Hypertension/complications , Ocular Hypertension/physiopathology , Pigment Epithelium of Eye/physiopathology , Retinal Diseases/physiopathology
9.
CLAO J ; 27(3): 121-4, 2001 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11506436

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the correlation between the aesthetics of lens tints preferred for cosmesis and lens tints preferred for viewing. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects (mean age: 25; 49% male, 51% female) with no significant ocular pathology participated in the study. Median visual acuity was 20/20. Color vision testing was performed on each subject using Ishihara plates, and those with abnormal scores were excluded from the study. Subjects were shown nine pre-selected tinted lenses (50% transmittance) of variable wavelengths. These lenses were mounted on two separate color backgrounds, one white and the other approximating their skin tone. Subjects were asked to choose from each background which tinted lens they would most prefer to wear and which lens they would least prefer to wear. The subjects were then shown a series of eight pictures (four nature photographs and four paintings) with different dominant wavelengths. Subjects were asked to grade the aesthetic effect of a clear lens and each of the nine tinted lenses on the appearance of the pictures. Chromaticity coordinates were calculated for each lens and picture. RESULTS: The blue lens was the most frequently chosen preferred lens to wear, followed by green, purple, and gray. The least preferred lenses were yellow, brown, and pink. For viewing the nature photographs, the clear lens was preferred over any of the tinted lenses. For viewing the paintings, the purple lens was most preferred. The yellow lens was least preferred for both photographs and paintings. CONCLUSIONS: Younger individuals with no significant ocular pathology preferred viewing both nature photographs and paintings through tinted lenses that did not, or only slightly, altered the chromaticity of the image. Whereas a clear lens was favored over the tinted lenses for viewing the photographs, some tinted lenses (purple and pink) were preferred for viewing paintings. There was no correlation between the most favored lens tint chosen based purely on cosmesis and the most favored lens tint based on viewing preference. However, the least preferred lens tint for cosmesis and viewing was yellow.


Subject(s)
Esthetics , Eyeglasses , Patient Satisfaction , Visual Acuity/physiology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male
10.
Am J Psychiatry ; 158(7): 1126-33, 2001 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11431235

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia is associated with deficits in higher-order processing of visual information. This study evaluated the integrity of early visual processing in order to evaluate the overall pattern of visual dysfunction in schizophrenia. METHOD: Steady-state visual-evoked potential responses were recorded over the occipital cortex in patients with schizophrenia and in age- and sex-matched comparison volunteers. Visual-evoked potentials were obtained for stimuli composed of isolated squares that were modulated sinusoidally in luminance contrast, number of squares, or chromatic contrast in order to emphasize magnocellular or parvocellular visual pathway activity. RESULTS: Responses of patients to magnocellular-biased stimuli were significantly lower than those of comparison volunteers. These lower response levels were observed in conditions using both low luminance contrast and large squares that biased processing toward the magnocellular pathway. In contrast, responses to stimuli that biased processing toward the parvocellular pathway were not significantly different between schizophrenia patients and comparison volunteers. A significant interaction of group and stimulus type was observed in the condition using low luminance contrast. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a dysfunction of lower-level visual pathways, which was more prominent for magnocellular than parvocellular biased stimuli. The magnocellular pathway helps in orienting toward salient stimuli. A magnocellular pathway deficit could contribute to higher-level visual cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.


Subject(s)
Occipital Lobe/physiopathology , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/physiopathology , Visual Pathways/physiopathology , Visual Perception/physiology , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Cognition Disorders/physiopathology , Contrast Sensitivity/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology , Form Perception/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Photic Stimulation , Schizophrenic Psychology , Visual Cortex/physiopathology
11.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci ; 42(3): 779-88, 2001 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11222541

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare local cone and rod system function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using electrophysiological and psychophysical techniques. METHODS: Cone-mediated multifocal electroretinograms (M-ERGs), cone system threshold visual fields, rod-mediated M-ERGs, and rod system threshold visual fields were measured in seven patients with RP. RESULTS: All the patients had normal cone system visual field thresholds and normal cone-mediated M-ERG implicit times within the central 5 degrees. Both cone-mediated responses were abnormal at some peripheral retinal locations. There were significant correlations among cone system amplitude, timing, and visual field loss. All the patients had some retinal areas where the rod-mediated M-ERG amplitudes were not measurable. In areas where they were measurable, these rod-mediated M-ERG responses were often within normal limits for amplitude and timing. In contrast to the cone system data, there were no significant relationships between rod-mediated M-ERG measures and rod system threshold elevations. The cone and rod system psychophysical thresholds showed regional correspondence; the amplitude-scale and time-scale measures of the M-ERG did not. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there was better local correspondence between psychophysical and electrophysiological measures in the cone system than in the rod system in patients with RP. In addition, the psychophysical measures of cone and rod system function showed better correspondence than did the electrophysiological measures.


Subject(s)
Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate/physiology , Retinitis Pigmentosa/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Electroretinography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensory Thresholds , Visual Fields
12.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci ; 41(11): 3643-54, 2000 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11006263

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the nature and extent of retinal dysfunction in the macular and surrounding areas that occurs in patients with diabetes with clinically significant macular edema (CSME). METHODS: Eleven patients were evaluated before focal laser treatment. Multifocal electroretinogram (ERG) and full-field ERG techniques were used to assess the effects of diabetic retinopathy and CSME on macular, paramacular, and peripheral retinal function. A modified visual field technique was used to obtain local threshold fields. The relationship between local sensitivity changes and local ERG changes was determined. RESULTS: Local ERG responses were significantly delayed and decreased in amplitude, and timing changes were observed in a larger area of the retina than amplitude changes. Visual field deficits were similarly widespread with marked sensitivity losses occurring in retinal areas with normal ERG amplitudes and in areas that appeared to be free of fundus abnormalities. Despite this similarity and the finding that retinal areas with elevated thresholds have timing delays, timing delays were not good predictors of the degree of threshold elevation. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the widespread nature of timing deficits and visual field deficits that are associated with CSME.


Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Macula Lutea/physiopathology , Macular Edema/physiopathology , Retinal Diseases/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Diabetic Retinopathy/surgery , Electroretinography/methods , Humans , Laser Coagulation , Macula Lutea/surgery , Macular Edema/surgery , Middle Aged , Retinal Diseases/surgery , Visual Acuity , Visual Fields/physiology
13.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci ; 41(11): 3655-64, 2000 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11006264

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of focal photocoagulation on retinal function in the macular and perimacular areas in patients with diabetes who have clinically significant macular edema. METHODS: Eleven patients were assessed after focal laser treatment. Multifocal electroretinogram (ERG) and full-field ERG techniques were used to evaluate the effects of treatment on macular, paramacular, and peripheral retinal function. A modified visual field technique was used to obtain local threshold fields. The posttreatment results were compared with pretreatment results. Changes in local ERG response amplitudes and implicit times were calculated for each patient and presented as difference fields. The changes in local ERG responses were compared with the changes in local field sensitivity. RESULTS: After treatment, the results of the psychophysical tests suggested little or no change in visual function, but changes in retinal function were observed with the multifocal ERG technique. Local ERG responses showed increases in implicit time and decreases in amplitude, compared with pretreatment values. Timing was affected more than amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that focal treatment produces changes in retinal function, and these changes are not restricted to the treated macular area.


Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy/surgery , Laser Coagulation , Macular Edema/surgery , Retina/physiology , Adult , Aged , Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Electroretinography/methods , Humans , Macular Edema/physiopathology , Middle Aged , Visual Acuity , Visual Fields
14.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci ; 41(6): 1570-9, 2000 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10798678

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To detect glaucomatous damage to the inner retina using the multifocal electroretinogram (mERG). METHODS: The stimulus array consisted of 103 hexagons with a mean luminance of 100 cd/m2 and a contrast of 50%. The mERG was recorded from 13 control subjects, 18 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), 4 glaucoma suspects, and one patient with ischemic optic neuropathy (ION). Individual responses, as well as responses summed within quadrants or across the entire array, were measured in a number of ways. Humphrey visual fields were obtained for all patients, and the mean total deviation (MD) values for the 18 patients with OAG ranged from -2.2 to -18.2 with a mean (SD) of -7.3 (4.5). RESULTS: The mERG measure that best discriminated between the patients and the control subjects was the ratio of the amplitude at 8 msec after the peak response to the amplitude at the peak. Although the value of this ratio fell below the median of the control group for 16 of the 18 OAG patients, only 6 of these patients had ratios that fell below the normal range. Other measures of first- and second-order kernels did not do as well. Both within and across patients, the correlation between local field loss and the mERG ratio measure was poor. Furthermore, although in some patients the mERG waveform is clearly different from normal, in other patients (including the patient with ION) the waveform approximates the normal even in visual field areas with substantial sensitivity loss. CONCLUSIONS: Because glaucomatous damage is known to affect the ganglion cell axon, these data suggest that damage to ganglion cell axons is not a sufficient condition to produce changes in the mERG as measured here and that in patients with clear changes in mERG waveforms, these changes do not appear to be well localized and local waveforms are poorly correlated with local changes in field sensitivity.


Subject(s)
Electroretinography/methods , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/diagnosis , Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology , Adult , Aged , Humans , Middle Aged , Ocular Hypertension/diagnosis , Visual Acuity , Visual Fields
15.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci ; 41(6): 1580-7, 2000 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10798679

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To develop a quantitative measure of local damage to the ganglion cells/optic nerve based on an interocular comparison of multifocal visual evoked potentials (mVEP). METHODS: Multifocal VEPs were recorded from both eyes of six normal subjects and four patients; each eye was stimulated separately. Two of the patients had glaucoma, one had ischemic optic neuropathy, and one had unilateral optic neuritis. All four patients had considerably more damage in one eye than in the other, as indicated by their Humphrey visual fields. The multi-input procedure of Sutter was used to obtain 60 VEP responses to a scaled checkerboard pattern. The amplitude in each response was obtained using a root mean square measure of response magnitude. For each of the 60 pairs of responses, a ratio between the amplitude of the responses from the two eyes was obtained as a measure of the relative health of one eye compared with the other. The mean and SD of this ratio measure for the control group were used to specify confidence intervals for each of the 60 locations. All patients had Humphrey 24-2 visual fields performed. To allow a comparison of the mVEPs to the visual fields, a procedure was developed for displaying the results of both tests on a common set of coordinates. RESULTS: Except for a small interocular difference in timing attributable to nasotemporal retinal differences, the pairs of mVEP responses from the two eyes of the control subjects were essentially identical. Many of the pairs of responses from the patients were significantly different. In general, there was reasonably good agreement with the Humphrey 24-2 visual field data. Although some regions with visual field defects were not detected in the mVEP due to small responses from the better eye, other abnormalities were detected that were hard to discern in the visual fields. CONCLUSIONS: Local monocular damage to the ganglion cell/optic nerve can be quantitatively measured by an interocular comparison of the mVEP.


Subject(s)
Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/diagnosis , Optic Nerve/pathology , Optic Neuritis/diagnosis , Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/diagnosis , Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology , Adult , Aged , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Humans , Middle Aged , Optic Neuritis/physiopathology , Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/physiopathology , Visual Acuity , Visual Fields
16.
J Glaucoma ; 9(2): 163-8, 2000 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10782626

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Electroretinograms to high-intensity flashes were obtained to determine the extent of rod and cone photoreceptor and postreceptor dysfunction in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Full-field flash electroretinograms were obtained using brief high-intensity flashes. Dark-adapted (rod-dominated) and light-adapted (cone-dominated) electroretinogram responses were recorded to a "white" light as a function of flash intensity. The a-wave data were fitted with a model based on photopigment transduction to obtain values for the parameters of log Rmax (the maximum response) and log S (sensitivity). Oscillatory potentials were measured to the cone-dominated high-intensity flashes. Standard clinical 30 Hz flicker electroretinogram responses were recorded using a Grass photostimulator. RESULTS: Analysis of rod and cone a-wave data showed that log Rmax and log S values were within the normal range in nearly all of the patients. For some patients, oscillatory potentials were delayed beyond the normal range. CONCLUSION: Our results provide little evidence for widespread photoreceptor abnormalities in primary open-angle glaucoma.


Subject(s)
Electroretinography , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Adult , Dark Adaptation/physiology , Electroretinography/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Observer Variation , Photic Stimulation
17.
Vision Res ; 38(12): 1901-11, 1998 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9797966

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that glaucoma leads to selective deficits in parallel pathways or channels. Sweep VEPs were obtained to isolated-check stimuli that were modulated sinusoidally in either isoluminant chromatic contrast or in positive and negative luminance contrast. Response functions were obtained from 14 control subjects, 15 patients with open-angle glaucoma, and seven glaucoma suspects. For all three groups of subjects we found characteristic differences between the VEP response functions to isoluminant chromatic contrast stimuli and to luminance contrast stimuli. The isoluminant chromatic stimulus conditions appeared to favor activity of the P-pathway, whereas the luminance contrast stimuli at low depths of modulation favored M-pathway activity. VEP responses for patients with OAG were significantly reduced for chromatic contrast and luminance contrast conditions, whereas VEP responses for glaucoma suspects were significantly reduced only for the 15-Hz positive luminance contrast condition. Our results suggest that both M- and P-pathways are affected by glaucoma.


Subject(s)
Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Visual Pathways/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Contrast Sensitivity , Humans , Middle Aged , Ocular Hypertension/physiopathology , Pattern Recognition, Visual/physiology , Photometry
18.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci ; 38(11): 2355-65, 1997 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9344359

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine whether the rod and cone photoreceptors are affected in patients with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Twelve patients with diabetes and varying levels of retinopathy and nine age-similar control observers participated in this study. Two-color (500 versus 650 nm) dark-adapted thresholds were measured as a function of retinal eccentricity. Full-field flash electroretinograms were obtained using brief, high-intensity flashes. Dark-adapted rod-isolated (Wratten 47B filter) and light-adapted cone-isolated (Wratten 26 filter) electroretinographic responses were measured as a function of flash intensity. The a-wave data were fitted with a model based on photopigment transduction to obtain values for the parameters of Rmax (the maximal response) and log S (sensitivity). Standard clinical 30-Hz flicker electroretinographic responses were also measured. RESULTS: Psychophysically measured dark-adapted thresholds were elevated primarily at eccentricities of 5 degrees and 10 degrees from the fovea. Analysis of rod and cone a-wave data showed that Rmax was normal in most of the patients, but log S was reduced. Analysis of b-wave and oscillatory potential parameters showed rod and cone postreceptoral abnormalities, including changes in the rod-isolated semisaturation constant (log k), cone-mediated 30-Hz flicker, and cone-isolated oscillatory potentials. The electrophysiological results were not significantly correlated with blood glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin level. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence for rod and cone receptoral and postreceptoral deficits in patients with diabetic retinopathy. The photoreceptor changes are primarily in the log S (sensitivity) parameter and are attributed to transduction abnormalities.


Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Adult , Dark Adaptation , Diabetes Complications , Electroretinography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Photic Stimulation , Sensory Thresholds
19.
Vision Res ; 36(22): 3711-22, 1996 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8977001

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that the retinae of patients with enhanced S cone syndrome (ESCS) have more S cones than the normal retina and these cones have replaced some of the L and M cones. Standard and spectral full-field electroretinograms, measurements of L, M, and S cone system sensitivities and S cone acuity were obtained from three patients with ESCS. The results were qualitatively consistent with the presence of more S cones and more S cone ganglion cells. To test this hypothesis further, a model of the receptoral and post-receptoral components of the S cone system was used in conjunction with psychophysical measurements of S cone system sensitivity under flashed and steady-state adaptation conditions. Within the context of the model, the data were consistent with an increase in the number of S cones and S - (L + M) ganglion cells and with a decrease in the total L + M cone input to each S - (L + M) ganglion cell.


Subject(s)
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Retinal Degeneration/physiopathology , Adaptation, Ocular , Adolescent , Adult , Electroretinography , Female , Humans , Male , Psychophysics , Sensory Thresholds , Visual Acuity , Visual Field Tests
20.
Vision Res ; 36(4): 621-9, 1996 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8855006

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of glaucoma, at different stages of the disease process, on the two color-opponent system and on the luminance system. Discrimination thresholds were measured along the two equiluminant cardinal color axes (RG and YV) and along an achromatic luminance axis (LD) in 27 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and in 13 glaucoma suspects. Patients with OAG showed increased thresholds along all three axes. The threshold increases correlated significantly with the level of visual field loss. For glaucoma suspects, thresholds were also increased along all three axes. A subgroup of patients with OAG, those with pigmentary glaucoma, showed minimal increases in threshold along the RG axis. To further investigate this finding an additional 15 patients, seven with primary OAG and eight with pigmentary glaucoma were run in a two-alternative forced-choice experiment. For patients with pigmentary glaucoma, thresholds were increased less along the RG axis. The results of the study for OAG patients and glaucoma suspects are consistent with deficits in the two color-opponent systems, and in the luminance system.


Subject(s)
Color Perception/physiology , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Ocular Hypertension/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Differential Threshold/physiology , Humans , Light , Middle Aged , Spectrophotometry , Visual Fields
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