Review Article. Electrophysiological Methods for Study of Changes in Visual Analyzer in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The electrophysiological (EF) methods are objective methods for studying the visual analyzer function. These include electroretinography (ERG), electrooculography (EOG) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs). ERG and EOG are used for diagnosis and monitoring of a number of diseases of the retina. VEPs depend on the functional integrity of the entire optical path from the retina through the optic nerve, optic tract, the optical radiation to the visual cortex. The electrophysiological methods are widely used in studying the function of the visual analyzer in the ophthalmic and neurological practice, for objectively measuring the visual acuity and the visual field in non-cooperative patients, small children and in simulation. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia. One of the late complications of DM is diabetic retinopathy (DR). It is one of the most serious complications of diabetes, often leading to blindness. Nowadays, DR includes retinal neurodegeneration and microvascular complications. By EF studies can evaluate the function of the retina in diabetic patients in an objective manner using ERG, that reflects the EF activity of the neurons in the retina and VEPs, which indicate the electrical conductivity across the optic tract to the visual cortex.

Keywords

• Electroretinography
• Visual evoked potentials
• Visual analyzer
• Diabetes mellitus