title: Electrophysiological function of the retina and optic nerve in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) and ablation procedures on electrophysiological function in the retina and optic nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty two eyes of 17 patients with AF were analyzed. The full-field electroretinogram (ERG), pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) were performed. The results were compared to age-matched healthy controls (n = 30). In 12 eyes, electrophysiological tests were performed before and 3 months after ablation treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences between AF patients and healthy controls were detected. In the full-field ERG, a reduction in the oscillatory potentials wave index (OPs WI; p = 0.012) and scotopic (0 dB) a-wave amplitude (p = 0.009) was observed. The amplitude of b-waves, scotopic (24 dB; p = 0.011), photopic single flash (p = 0.008) and photopic flicker (p = 0.009), was decreased. The photopic flicker b-wave peak time was increased (p = 0.005). Other parameters of ERG/PERG/PVEP did not differ significantly from controls. After the ablation procedure, the only statistically significant change was an increase in the OPs WI (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the analyzed series of AF patients, retinal dysfunction was detected in the ERG test. The AF ablation may improve the retinal function as indicated by an increase in the OPs WI. The OPs WI has a potential value in the estimation of the effectiveness of AF ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goslawski
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modrzejewska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wielusinski
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kazmierczak
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lubinski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology