title: Comparison of pre- and post-operational multifocal electroretinograms of retinal detachment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the changes of multifocal electroretinograms (mfERG) before and after retinal detachment surgery and to evaluate its clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients (23 eyes) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment underwent mfERG before and after surgery. The latencies and average response densities of N(1)-wave and P(1)-wave of mfERGs in detached areas, attached areas, fovea and the entire tested area were compared before and after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperatively, the average response densities of N(1)-wave and P(1)-wave in the detached area were significantly smaller than those in attached areas (t = 3.68, t = 4.26, P < 0.01), and the latencies of N(1)-wave and P(1)-wave in detached areas were significantly longer than those in attached areas (t = 3.07, t = 3.89, P < 0.01). Postoperatively, the average response densities of N(1)-wave and P(1)-wave in detached areas, fovea and the entire tested area increased, and there were significant differences pre- and postoperatively (P < 0.05). However, the latencies of N(1)-wave and P(1)-wave before and after surgery showed no significant differences (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mfERG is a useful tool to evaluate the recovery of posterior retinal function after retinal detachment surgery. The response density is a more sensitive index than latency to evaluate retinal function of retinal detachment.
authors.affiliation: Eye Research Institute, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510060, China. wdzzoc@gzsums.edu.cn
authors.forename: Dezheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Rulong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Guoming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lezheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity