Authors: Montrone, Lucrezia¹; Ziccardi, Lucia¹; Stifano, Giovanna¹; Piccardi, Marco¹; Molle, Fernando¹; Focosi, Francesco¹; Fadda, Antonello²; Falsini, Benedetto³

Source: Documenta Ophthalmologica, Volume 110, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 103-110(8)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Purpose: To evaluate regional cone system function after uncomplicated retinal detachment (RD) surgery, by recording focal electroretinograms (FERGs) from the central and paracentral regions of the posterior pole. Methods: FERGs in response to either a central (eccentricity: 0–2.25 deg) or a paracentral annular (2.25–9 deg) uniform field, presented on a light adapting background and sinusoidally flickered at 41 Hz (95% modulation depth, 93 cd/m² mean luminance) were recorded from 16 eyes (16 patients) 2 weeks to 420 months following uncomplicated RD surgery (encircling procedure with or without scleral buckling). Pre-operatively, 10 out of 16 eyes had a macular RD. Mean time elapsed from onset of symptoms to surgery was 20 days (range: 5–90 days). Post-operatively, visual acuity ranged 0.1 to 1.0. Eight age-matched normal subjects served as controls. Amplitude and phase of the FERG fundamental harmonic were measured. Results: Compared to control eyes, affected eyes’ central and paracentral FERGs were on average reduced in amplitude (by 40% and 28%, respectively, p<0.01) and delayed in phase (by 70 and 100 degrees, respectively, p<0.01). Eyes with a macular RD did not differ in FERG amplitude or phase from eyes that had a peripheral RD. In individual affected eyes, central, but not paracentral FERG amplitudes were negatively correlated (p=0.05) with time elapsed from onset of symptoms to surgery. Conclusions: Central and paracentral cone system dysfunction may be detected even at lengthy time intervals from retinal reattachment, independent of the presence of a pre-operative macular RD. The extent of central loss appears to be inversely related to RD duration, in agreement with previous reflectometric findings on foveal cone photopigment density [Liem et al., 1994; Ophthalmology 10: 1945-51].

Keywords: cone system; focal electroretinogram; functional recovery; retinal detachment; surgery

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10633-005-7554-3

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Ophthalmology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy, 2: Biomedical Engineering Lab., I.S.S., Rome, Italy, 3: Institute of Ophthalmology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy, Email: md0571@mclink.it

Publication date: 2005-01-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Ophthalmology
• By this author: Montrone, Lucrezia ;  Ziccardi, Lucia ;  Stifano, Giovanna ;  Piccardi, Marco ;  Molle, Fernando ;  Focosi, Francesco ;  Fadda, Antonello ;  Falsini, Benedetto

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers