The significance of combination of electrophysiology and automated perimetry tests on the early diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma

Journal: Yan Ke Xue Bao = Eye Science
Published:
Abstract

Objective: The study was designed to analyze the relationship among the three electrophysiological tests and visual fields in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in order to find some more sensitive and specific parameters in earlier and early diagnosis of patients with POAG.

Methods: Thirty-six(70 eyes) patients with POAG, 8(12 eyes) glaucoma suspects and 30 (60 eyes) normal subjects underwent pattern electroretinogram (PERG), oscillatory potentials (OPs), pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) and Humphery automated perimetry tests respectively.

Results: The abnormal rate of PERG was the highest among the three electrophysiological tests in the glaucoma suspects and those of PERG and automated perimetry results were higher than others after early stage. In the correlation analysis of all objects, the amplitude of PERG had negative correlated with IOP and visual indices, but no correlation with C/D and VA. OPs had negative correlated with C/D, and no correlation with visual fields indices, intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual acuity (VA). The latency of PVEP had positive correlation with visual fields indices and C/D, but no correlation with IOP.

Conclusions: Statistical result showed that different parameters could be selected according to different appearance of POAG. In the earlier stage before visual field defects could be found, PERG would be a more sensitive indicator if IOP were high; once C/D was abnormal, OPs and PVEP would be the better signs even though IOP was normal. PERG and Humphery automated perimetry were very useful indicators after early stage. It was significant in combination of many visual function tests on earlier or early diagnosis of POAG.

Authors
Y Lan, J Ge, Y Liu