Electroretinography: application to clinical studies of infants

Abstract

The electroretinographic (ERG) responses of normal human infants have been studied in scotopic conditions. The relation of stimulus intensity to the amplitude of the b-wave of the ERG undergoes developmental changes during infancy. The maximum amplitude that can be obtained gradually increases to approach adult values by age 12 months. Sensitivity, however, is equivalent to that of adults at age five to six months. Latencies reach adult values at the end of the first year. Some results of ERG testing of infant patients with retinal disorders are compared to the normal results. As previously reported for animals and human adults with retinal disorders, amplitude, sensitivity and latency are not always equally compromised by the retinal diseases of infants.