Evaluation Of MfERG In The Diagnosis Of Early Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

ObjectiveGlaucoma is the second most common causes of irreversible blindness. Early diagnosis is the key to prevent blindness caused by glaucoma, which is one of the most interested fields in glaucoma study. About 25 to 40 percent of patients had retinal ganglion cells apoptosis with detectable visual field changes. Multi-focal electroretinography (mfERG) is an objective and sensitive electrophysiological examination, which can stimulate different locations at the same time and analysis the function of different parts of retina. It is unique compared with routine examinations and is widely used in clinic and research. We evaluated the changes of first order Kernel (FOK) reaction of mfERG in early primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).MethodsEarly POAG is diagnosed according to the standards proposed by National Glaucoma Collaborative Group in 1987. Nineteen normal eyes and 13 POAG eyes were examined with mfERG (RETIscan 3.11 version) and Humphrey 750-I perimetry. Amplitude density and latent time of FOK P₁ in five rings and four quadrants were recorded and analyzed by SPSS ver 10.0.ResultsAmplitude density of P₁ of five rings of early POAG were significantly decreased compared with normal eyes (P＜0.05). Latent time of P₁ were also prolonged (P<0.05). Amplitude density of P₁ in supranasal quadrant (SN) was significantly decreased (P<0.05), but not significantly changed in other quadrants (P>0.05). The latent time of four quadrants (SN, IN, IT, ST) were prolonged significantly (P<0.05).ConcIusionsMfERG is a sensitive method to detect glaucoma and can provide effective evidence for the early diagnosis. But no characterized changes are detected. We should combine multiple examinations to get sensitive and accurate diagnosis.