Analysis of the results of multifocal electroretinogram and optical coherence tomography in diagnosis and monitoring of patients with age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Purpose: to study the correlation between the results of the macular area responses by multifocal-electroretinog-raphy (mf-ERG) and the retina thickness obtained by the spectralis optical coherence tomography (ОСТ) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Material and methods. 28 patients (32 eyes) where enrolled in the main group. The control group was up to 10 patients without any AMD's pathological sign in retina. All patients were examined by the optical coherence tomography (ОСТ) and multifocal electroretinography (mf-ERG). Results. The data showed a high level of negative correlation between the retinal thickness and electrical amplitudes of the fovea. With the group of "dry" AMD the rise of the macular thickness (drusen) not over 290 urn showed a moderate reduction of the amplitude on mf-ERG The group with "wet" AMD showed that a higher rise of the retinal thickness (edema, fibrosis) of the macular zone negatively influences the bio-electrical activity of this area and this fact was confirmed by a considerable decline of the amplitude on the mf-ERG. Conclusion. The AMD's pathological changes that have been observed by ОСТ are objectively confirmed by mf-ERG. The mf-ERG in supplement of ОСТ can be used as an important element in the complex studies and objectively monitoring of patients with AMD.

Keywords

• age-related macular degeneration
• multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG)
• optical coherent tomography