title: Pattern electroretinogram and spatial contrast sensitivity in primary congenital glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors investigated the temporal and spatial characteristics of pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and spatial contrast sensitivity (CS) in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) to determine whether the PERG and CS could be useful tools in the diagnosis of childhood glaucoma, especially PCG.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PERGs were evaluated in eyes from ten patients with PCG and nine age-matched visually normal subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients received complete ophthalmologic evaluations including visual field testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PERGs were recorded using phase-alternating (2, 4, and 16 reversals per second [rps]) checkerboard patterns (30' and 60' checks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with PCG exhibited decreased CS when compared with that of control subjects. Significant PERG deficits also were detected in these patients. However, PERG amplitude in patients with PCG almost reached control subject levels at high (16 rps) temporal frequency. This was true for both 30' and 60' checks. Taken together, these observations on PERG amplitude suggest a more important deficiency of the neural response of the retinal cells at lower temporal frequency (rps) in patients with PCG. This is unlike primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in which significant PERG deficits are observed at high temporal frequencies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PERG amplitude is reduced in patients with PCG, and this is consistent with a loss of CS and visual field changes in these patients. However, the spatiotemporal characteristics of the PERG deficits in PCG differ from those of POAG. This could suggest a difference in the mechanisms mediating retinal ganglion cell dysfunction in the two types of glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barsoum-Homsy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chevrette
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Trick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*