Pattern electroretinographic recordings in eyes with myopia.

PURPOSE Pattern electroretinography (PERG) is a specific test for the analysis of functions of the central retina. In this study, we investigated the PERG recordings in subjects with myopia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This study was performed on 1 eye of 80 subjects with varying degrees of myopia. Four groups were formed according to the refraction values: group 1: between 0.00 and -0.75 diopter (D); group 2: between -1.00 and -3.00 D; group 3: between -3.25 and -6.00 D; and group 4: between -6.25 and -10.00 D. Amplitudes and latencies of transient PERG P50 and N95 waves were recorded in all subjects. RESULTS P50 and N95 wave amplitudes were lower in higher myopes (groups 3 and 4) when compared with lower myopes (groups 1 and 2; P<0.001). The amount of loss in P50 amplitude was 8% in group 2, 16% in group 3, and 36% in group 4 when compared with group 1. The amount of loss in N95 amplitude was 7% in group 2, 21% in group 3, and 43% in group 4 when compared with group 1. Although P50 wave latencies showed no difference between groups, N95 wave latencies were increased in higher myopes. The elongation in N95 wave latency in group 4 was 3.08 ms. CONCLUSIONS Increased axial length may contribute to the decrease in PERG amplitudes in our study. PERG recordings must be carefully evaluated when the group in any study that involves myopic subjects.