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Assessing abnormal rod photoreceptor activity with the a-wave of the electroretinogram: Applications and methods

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Abstract

The impact of a disease on phototransduction can be assessed by fitting the leading edge of the rod a-wave to high-energy flashes with a quantitative expression. Two parameters of rod receptor activity are obtained, S (sensitivity) and Rm (maximum response). In this study, the meaning of these parameters and examples of conditions that change them were examined. In addition, a new protocol was developed for obtaining these parameters. A set of three to five white flashes were first presented in the dark and then on an adapting field (30 cd/m2). Subtracting the light-adapted responses from the dark-adapted responses yielded isolated rod a-wave responses. A clinical protocol was developed based on a single white flash energy. It is possible to determine whether a disease is producing a change in S and/or Rm with this single flash energy without the use of any equations.

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Abbreviations

CRVO:

central retinal vein occlusion

NVI:

neovascularization of the iris

Rm:

maximum response

S:

sensitivity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, TX, USA

    David G. Birch

  2. Department of Psychology, Columbia University, 1190 Amsterdam Ave., Room 406, 10027-7004, New York, NY, USA

    Donald C. Hood

Authors
  1. Donald C. Hood
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  2. David G. Birch
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Correspondence to Donald C. Hood.

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Hood, D.C., Birch, D.G. Assessing abnormal rod photoreceptor activity with the a-wave of the electroretinogram: Applications and methods. Doc Ophthalmol 92, 253–267 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584080

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584080

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