Visual electrodiagnosis in glaucoma screening: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of pattern visual-evoked potentials (pVEP) and pattern electroretinograms (pERG) in early glaucoma diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-eight eyes of 38 patients were included. Patients were classified into normal control (NC) and glaucoma patient (GP) groups. Patients underwent a detailed clinical ophthalmic examination and an electrodiagnostic examination using steady-state pVEP and pERG. Differences between groups in the amplitudes of the second harmonic of the pVEP and pERG responses to 480' (A480) and 48' (A48) check sizes and the ratio of the above amplitudes (A48/A480) were examined. RESULTS Differences in the 48' and 480' pVEP between groups were not statistically significant. The pVEP A48/A480 ratio was significantly higher in NC than in GP. Differences in pERG between groups were statistically not significant for both 48' and 480' check sizes. In contrast, respective differences in pERG A48/A480 ratio were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Steady-state pVEP and pERG A48/A480 ratio may be of value in glaucoma diagnosis.