Effect of cataract on electroretinographic response.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of cataract on electroretinographic responses. MATERIAL AND METHOD Thirty subjects with dense cataracts underwent electroretinogram (ERG) recordings before and after cataract surgery, using RETIport32 (Roland Instruments, Germany). The degree of cataract was classified according to the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). No significant eye diseases were noted in all subjects. Following the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV), scotopic, mesopic, photopic, oscillatorypotentials and 30 Hz flicker ERG responses were recorded. The mean amplitudes of a- and b-waves, pre and post-cataract surgery were analyzed using the paired t-test. RESULTS Following cataract surgery, most of the ERG responses were slightly increased but the difference was not statistically significant. However, the mesopic b-wave amplitude was decreased significantly after cataract surgery. CONCLUSION Most of the ERG waves after cataract surgery were slightly higher than pre-operative waves, but the differences were not statistically significant. The ERG remains a reliable guide in evaluation of the visual prognosis before cataract surgery.