title: Pattern electroretinography in glaucoma suspects and early primary open angle glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction in glaucoma suspects and patients with early primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) using pattern electroretinography (PERG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty glaucoma suspects (glaucomatous optic disc appearance), 15 early POAG (based on abnormal discs and abnormal visual fields) and 16 normal controls were enrolled. Transient PERG was recorded in response to 0.8° and 16° black and white checkerboard stimuli. Amplitude and peak time (latency) of the P50 and N95 components of the PERG response, and the ratio of N95 amplitude in response to 0.8° and 16° checks were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  N95 peak time (latency) was significantly increased in both early manifest POAG and glaucoma suspects as compared to normal controls (P<0.001). In early POAG, N95 amplitude in response to small (0.8°) checks and the small/large check ratio were reduced in comparison to normal eyes (P<0.05). However, in glaucoma suspects no significant N95 amplitude reduction was observed. No significant difference was observed among the study groups in terms of P50 amplitude or peak time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The N95 PERG response demonstrated uncoupled peak time and amplitude alterations in glaucoma. N95 peak time was significantly increased both in glaucoma suspects and early POAG; N95 amplitude reduction was present only in early POAG. PERG may detect RGC dysfunction (increased latency) before cell death (decreased amplitude) occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jafarzadehpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Radinmehr
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pakravan
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirzajani
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazdani
keywords: Glaucoma Suspect; Pattern Electroretinography; Primary Open Angle Glaucoma