PHOTORECEPTOR FUNCTION IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH A HISTORY OF MILDRETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

Five infants and children with a history of mild retinopathy of premat urity (ROP) were tested for postulated alterations in rod photorecepto r function. The photoreceptor responses were derived from the electror etinographic a waves. Postreceptoral components, the b wave and the os cillatory potentials, were also examined. The saturated amplitude and sensitivity of the rod photoreceptor responses were low, except for th e sensitivity in one patient. The b-wave sensitivity was low, but satu rated amplitudes were within the 95% prediction interval for normal. T he amplitudes of the oscillatory-potential responses were also attenua ted. The results indicate that retinal dysfunction may be present in p atients with a history of mild ROP long after the ROP has completely r esolved. Additionally, the data suggest that the photoreceptors are th e primary site of retinal dysfunction in mild ROP. (C) 1996 Optical So ciety of America