Electroretinography and electro-oculography to localize abnormalities in early-stage inflammatory eye disease

• Published in: Documenta ophthalmologica Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 387 - 394
• Main Authors: IKEDA, H, FRANCHI, A, TURNER, G, SHILLING, J, GRAHAM, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-12-1989
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electrooculography; Electrooculography. Electroretinography; Electroretinography; Eye Diseases - diagnosis; Eye Diseases - physiopathology; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Fundus Oculi; Humans; Inflammation - diagnosis; Inflammation - physiopathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Uveitis - physiopathology; Vasculitis - physiopathology; Vitreous Body - physiopathology; Electroretinography; Human; Electrodiagnosis; Electrooculography; Eye disease; Exploration; Inflammation
• ISSN: 0012-4486; 1573-2622
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00154494

Electrophysiological investigations were performed in patients with inflammatory eye disease characterized by the presence of vitreous cells. The eyes were classified into four categories on the basis of fluorescein angiography: 1) no fluorescein leakage from retinal vessels, 2) fluorescein leakage from peripheral retinal vessels, 3) fluorescein leakage from the disc or macular vessels, and 4) fluorescein leakage from retinal vessels associated with pigment epithelial and choroidal changes. The electro-oculogram light rise was abnormally increased in the eyes in category 1, but it progressively declined for those in the other categories. The ratio of the b-wave (postreceptoral component) and a-wave (receptoral component) of the flash electroretinogram was unchanged in all categories, but the electroretinographic amplitudes progressively declined from a somewhat supernormal level in category 1 to subnormal in the other categories. Thus, in inflammatory eye disease, changes in the electrical potentials arising in the pigment epithelium and photoreceptors are the earliest detectable signs. Some biochemical changes in the choroid, pigment epithelium, and the photoreceptors appear to take place before any pathological changes in these structures or in the retinal vessels are detectable by ophthalmoscopy or fluorescein angiography.