gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

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Recording of both, visually evoked potentials and multifocal ERG as examination modes for visual defects of unknown origin

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  • corresponding author A.B. Renner - Augenklinik, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
  • H. Tillack - Augenklinik, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
  • H. Kraus - Augenklinik, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
  • M.H. Foerster - Augenklinik, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
  • U. Kellner - Augenklinik, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin; Retinascience, Bonn

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogSA.12.01

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog378.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Renner et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Objective

Patients with visual defects of unknown origin undergo diagnostic various examinations. The purpose of the study is to determine the importance of recording of both visual evoked potentials (VEP) and multifocal ERG.

Methods

72 patients with visual defects of unknown origin underwent both VEP and mfERG. The patients were consecutively examined at the electrophysiologic laboratory of the CBF between 1996 and 2002. The electrophysiologic data were retrospectively analysed in context with further clinical results. Electrophysiologic tests were performed according to ISCEV standards.

Results

Among the patients, there were 42 females and 30 males. The mean age was 42.4 years (11.8 - 74.5 years, median 48.3). The median of visual acuity was 0.5 (nulla lux - 1.0). Subjective symptoms appearing in 70 patients spontaneously and in 2 postoperative included unilateral (24 pat.) or bilateral (45 pat.) visual loss, visual field defects (11 pat.) and disturbances of light- or darkadaptation (10 pat.). Because of the visual defects an MRT or CT was performed in 24 pat. (33%) already prior to the electrophysiologic tests, 7/24 pat. underwent in addition and 2 further pat. only a neurological examination (all results normal). In 19 of these 26 patients the electrophysiologic tests did not reveal any disturbances of the optic nerv system. VEP as well as mfERG were normal in 44% (32/72 pat.), but pathological in 24% (17 pat.). In further 19% (14 pat.) only the mfERG was pathological, in 13% (9 pat.) only the VEP.

Conclusions

The electrophysiologic diagnostic with VEP as well as mfERG is an important tool and guide to clarify visual defects of unknown origin. In the majority of patients, who brought a normal MRT/CT result, the electrophysiologic tests did not reveal any disturbances of the optic nerv system. In cases of visual defects of unknown origin electrophysiologic tests should be done at first to avoid costly and burdening MRT/CT's.