Pattern electroretinogram in glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Abstract

We recorded the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) to small (0.8 degree) and very large (15 degrees) check sizes in normal subjects, in patients with early-stage glaucoma, and in patients with ocular hypertension. In glaucoma, the PERG amplitude was reduced. This reduction was more prominent for a check size of 0.8 degree as compared with 15 degrees stimuli and for high (16/s) as compared with low (7.8/s) reversal rates. Using a discriminant analysis of the amplitudes for two different check sizes, we could distinguish the normal and the glaucoma groups with a specificity of 96% and a sensitivity of 91%. Of the ocular hypertension patients, 43% were classified as pathologic by the discriminant analysis. Thus multivariate analysis of the PERG may increase its diagnostic value.