[The effects of aging on the multifocal electroretinogram].
OBJECTIVE
In order to use multifocal electroretinogram (m-ERG) for clinical assessment, we investigated the effects of aging on waves of the first and second order kernels of the m-ERG.


METHODS
m-ERGs were recorded from 93 eyes (refractive error 0-(-)3.0 D) of 56 normal subjects (range 12-79, mean 44.2 +/- 20.7 years of age) using the Visual Evoked Response Imaging System (VERIS Science, version 3.0.1). We analyzed effects of aging on the response densities and the peak latencies of the first positive wave (P 1) of the first order kernel and the second and third positive waves (P 2 and P 3) of the second order kernel.


RESULTS
The response densities of the P 1 and P 2 waves significantly decreased, and the peak latencies of the P 1, P 2 and P 3 were significantly prolonged (p < 0.05) in the subjects above 50 years old.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that the aging effect on the m-ERG should be considered when evaluating retinal function using m-ERGs in basic and clinical studies.
Nabeshima
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Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged