Multifocal electroretinograms in patients with branch retinal artery occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
We recorded multifocal electroretinograms (M-ERG) in patients with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) and compared the waveforms in the area of retinal artery occlusion with those in the normal area, to evaluate the influence of the damage to the inner retina shown by M-ERG responses.


METHODS
Three patients who had normal visual acuity and visual field loss of more than one quadrant due to BRAO were examined. The central 50 degrees of ocular fundus was stimulated through dilated pupils by an array of 103 hexagonal elements for 4 minutes. The waveforms of the first order and second order kernel responses of M-ERG in the area of the retinal artery occlusion were compared with those of the vertically symmetrical, normally perfused area of the same eye.


RESULTS
The amplitude of the averaged tracing decreased in the first negative wave (N1), first positive wave (P1), and second negative wave (N2) in the first order kernel responses in the area of retinal artery occlusion in comparison with the normally perfused area. Furthermore, prolongation of latency was noted for N1, P1, and N2 in the same area. Second order kernel responses were not detected in the area of the retinal artery occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
The damage to the inner retina affected parts of N1, P1, and N2 of the first order kernel responses, with N2 being the most seriously affected. Furthermore, second order kernel responses clearly reflected the condition of the inner retina.
Ohshima
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
Hasegawa
S
S
Takada
R
R
Takagi
M
M
Abe
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields