title: Multifocal VEP and OCT findings in patients with primary open angle glaucoma: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate objectively the anatomical and functional changes of optic nerve in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) by the joint use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  29 eyes with open angle glaucoma and visual field defects, as well as 20 eyes of 10 age-matched control normal subjects were tested. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. Moreover, Humphrey visual field test, OCT examination and recording of mfVEP were performed. Amplitude and implicit time of mfVEP, as well as RNFL thickness were measured. Differences in density components of mfVEP and in RNFL thickness among POAG eyes and control eyes were examined using Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In glaucomatous eyes the mean Retinal Response Density (RRD) was lower than normal in ring 1, 2 and 3 of mfVEP (p < 0.0001). Specifically the mean amplitude of mfVEP in POAG eyes was estimated at 34.2 ± 17.6 nV/deg2, 6.9 ± 4.8 nV/deg2 and 2.6 ± 1.6 nV/deg2 in rings 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In contrast the mean implicit time was similar to control eyes. In addition, the mean RNFL thickness in POAG eyes was estimated at 76.8 ± 26.6 μm in the superior area, 52.1 ± 16.3 μm in the temporal area, 75.9 ± 32.5 μm in the inferior area and 58.6 ± 19.4 μm in the nasal area. There was a statistically significant difference in RNFL thickness in all peripapillary areas (p < 0.0001) between POAG eyes and controls, with superior and inferior area to present the highest decrease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that, although Standard Automatic Perimetry is the gold standard to evaluate glaucomatous neuropathy, the joint use of mfVEP and OCT could be useful in better monitoring glaucoma progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Ekali, Greece. moschosmarilita@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Marilita M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moschos
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: Irini P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Chatziralli
authors.forename: Chryssanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koutsandrea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D058609:Visual Field Tests