Focal macular electroretinograms in eyes with wet-type age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To study the properties of the focal macular electroretinograms (fmERGs) in eyes with untreated wet-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
fmERGs were recorded from 157 eyes of 157 consecutive patients with untreated wet-type AMD (113 men, 44 women; age, 71.3 +/- 8.0 years). The fmERGs were recorded under direct fundus observation using a modified infrared fundus camera and a 15 degrees stimulus spot. Amplitudes and implicit times of the fmERGs recorded from the AMD patients were compared with those from 21 age-similar healthy controls.


RESULTS
The amplitudes of fmERGs in the AMD patients were significantly smaller (P < 0.001) and the implicit times were significantly longer (P < 0.001) than the corresponding values in the control eyes. There was a significant correlation between amplitude and implicit time of the fmERG and visual acuity (logMAR), but the degree of correlation was weak. The difference in the b/a amplitude ratio between the AMD patients and healthy controls was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant reduction in amplitude and the severe delay in implicit times of a- and b-waves of the fmERGs indicated significant functional alterations in the inner and the outer retinal layers of the macular area of eyes with wet-type AMD.
Nishihara
Hiroaki
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
Kondo
Mineo
M
Ishikawa
Kohei
K
Sugita
Tadasu
T
Piao
Chang-Hua
CH
Nakamura
Yoshiharu
Y
Terasaki
Hiroko
H
D000368:Aged; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity