Flash electroretinography: normative values with surface skin electrodes and no pupil dilation using a standard stimulation protocol.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the clinical feasibility of using surface electrodes for recording flash electroretinography (ERG), using the stimulation standards of the International Society for the Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV), without pupillary dilation.


METHODS
Eighteen physiologically normal volunteers were tested. Surface recording electrodes were placed over the middle third of the lower eyelid of each eye, and the reference electrode placed on the temple. The recording filters and method of stimulation for the standard flash cone, 30 Hz flicker, rod, standard combined and oscillatory responses were those recommended by the ISCEV. Four patients with a history of visual dysfunction were also examined.


RESULTS
The amplitudes of the responses were noted to have a high signal to noise ratio, allowing us to average only a few responses. The waveform configurations were almost identical to those published using other recording methods. Patients with retinitis pigmentosa and early onset retinal dystrophy had abnormal responses, whereas patients with Stargardt's Syndrome and spasm of accommodation had responses within normal limits.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has established the clinical feasibility of performing flash ERG using surface skin electrodes, with no pupillary dilation and using the stimulation standards of the ISCEV.
Papathanasiou
Eleftherios S
ES
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, 6 International Airport Avenue, P.O. Box 23462, Nicosia 1683, Cyprus. neurophy@cing.ac.cy
Papacostas
Savvas S
SS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004566:Electrodes; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D005143:Eyelids; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*