Prognostic value of initial electroretinogram in central retinal vein obstruction

• Published in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology Vol. 232; no. 2; pp. 75 - 81
• Main Authors: MATSUI, Y, KATSUMI, O, MCMEEL, J. W, HIROSE, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-02-1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Electroretinography; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Photic Stimulation; Prognosis; Retinal Vein Occlusion - physiopathology; Retinopathies; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sensory Thresholds - physiology; Visual Acuity - physiology; Electroretinography; Human; Electrodiagnosis; Eye disease; Prognosis; Retinopathy; Exploration; Obliteration; Central vein of the retina
• ISSN: 0721-832X; 1435-702X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00171667

We retrospectively studied the correlation between the initial electroretinogram (ERG) recordings and the final visual acuities (VA) of 47 patients with central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO) after follow-up of more than 1 year. The a- and b-wave amplitudes and the b/a ratio with white flash were significantly larger in patients with good vision (VA > 20/200) than in those with poor vision (VA < or = 20/200). The b/a ratio and b-wave amplitude with white flash showed sensitivity and specificity of more than 78% for visual prognosis. The latest VA was < or = 20/200 in all 20 patients with a subnormal b-wave amplitude and in all 15 with b/a ratio < 1.05. These results suggest that the ERG recorded soon after (CRVO) onset correlates strongly with visual prognosis.