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Macular function measured by binocular mfERG and compared with macular structure in healthy children

Documenta Ophthalmologica volume 131, pages 169–176 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To create normative data in children from binocular multifocal ERG (mfERG) recordings and compare results with the macular thickness.

Methods

Forty-nine 5- to 15-year-old healthy, full-term children were examined with Espion Multifocal System, using DTL electrodes. The stimulus matrix consisted of 37 hexagonal elements. Amplitudes, implicit times and response densities (presented in three rings) of the first-order component P1 were analyzed. Measurements of macular thickness were performed with spectral-domain Cirrus OCT.

Results

There were no significant differences between right and left eyes regarding mfERG recordings. Median P1 implicit times of Rings 1–3 of the 46 right eyes were 30.0, 30.0 and 30.8 ms and response densities 20.5, 10.9 and 7.6 nV/deg2, respectively. Implicit time was longer in boys than in girls (p = 0.009, 0.039, 0.005 in Rings 1–3) and was correlated with age (r s = 0.417, 0.316, 0.274 in Rings 1–3). Implicit time in Ring 1 correlated significantly with the inner circle of the OCT measurements (p = 0.014).

Conclusion

Binocular mfERG with DTL electrodes is a reliable test of the central macular function in children and correlates with macular structure. As previously not shown, there was a significant difference in implicit time between boys and girls.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Eva Nuija for efficient help and for performing the OCT measurements in the study. We also thank Marcus Thuresson, Statisticon AB, for valuable help with the statistical analyses. The study was supported by the Crown Princess Margareta Foundation for the Visually Impaired, Ögonfonden, and the Sigvard and Marianne Bernadotte Foundation. All authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements) or nonfinancial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Anna E. C. Molnar, Eva K. B. Larsson, Hanna M. Åkerblom & Gerd E. Holmström

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Sten O. L. Andreasson

Authors
  1. Anna E. C. Molnar
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  2. Sten O. L. Andreasson
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  3. Eva K. B. Larsson
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  4. Hanna M. Åkerblom
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  5. Gerd E. Holmström
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerd E. Holmström.

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Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Statements of human rights

The tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki were strictly adhered to during the course of the study.

Informed consent

Written consent was obtained from the parents of the participating children and oral consent from children. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Uppsala University.

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Molnar, A.E.C., Andreasson, S.O.L., Larsson, E.K.B. et al. Macular function measured by binocular mfERG and compared with macular structure in healthy children. Doc Ophthalmol 131, 169–176 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-015-9513-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-015-9513-y

Keywords

  • Binocular
  • Multifocal electroretinogram
  • DTL electrodes
  • Healthy children
  • Optic coherence tomography