STUDY OF PATTERN-ELECTRORETINOGRAM COMPON ENTS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GLAUCOMA

Current electrophysiological techniques that help guide the diagnosis of glaucoma include pattern-electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern-visua l evoked potential (PEVP) recordings. However, PERG has been recognize d over the last decade as a good indicator of retinal ganglion cell fu nction. One hundred seventy one eyes corresponding to 89 subjects were studied using both PERG (gold foil electrodes) and PEVP recordings. T wo groups respectively including 32 subjects with ocular hypertension (OHT) and 27 subjects with simple chronic glaucoma (SCG) were compared with a control group composed of 30 healthy age-matched subjects. In regard to PERG recordings, the amplitudes of the P50 and N95 component s were measured, but statistically significant differences were shown only for the N95 amplitudes both SCG (P < 0.01) and OHT (P < 0.05) gro ups. The amplitude and latency of the PEVP P100 component were analyze d. P100 latency was significantly delayed (P < 0.05/ in SCG patients o nly. These finding is suggest that the amplitude of the N95 component is the most sensitive electrophysiological parameter for early glaucom a detection.