[The significance of pattern electroretinogram in detecting retinal function in primary open angle glaucoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical significance of pattern electroretinogram (PERG) in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).


METHODS
Thirty-six patients (59 eyes) with POAG and 32 persons (59 eyes) as age-matched normal controls were tested by PERG.


RESULTS
The changes of PERG in POAG included reduction of amplitudes of P(1), N(2), P(1) + N(2) and N(2)/P(1). Using the criteria of AN(2) + AP(1) < 2.7 and AN(2)/AP(1) < 0.7 (A = amplitude), the positive rate was 90% in 59 eyes with POAG, and no eye from the normal control group was considered as abnormal. The amplitudes of PERG had already been abnormal before the early visual field loss occurred in POAG eyes. The amplitudes of P(1) and N(2) waves decreased with the enlargement of visual field defect, were positively correlated to the patient's visual acuity and negatively correlated to the cup/disc ratio of optic nerve papilla, and linear regression equations between them were respectively established.


CONCLUSIONS
PERG is an useful method in detecting the retinal functions in POAG.
Chen
G
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Weifang Medical College, Shandong 261042.
You
Y
Y
Zhang
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*