Electroretinography (cont.)
What diseases is my doctor looking for with an ERG?
There are a number of conditions, mostly ocular in nature, in which the ERG may provide useful information. The diagnoses most commonly suspected when ordering an ERG are predominantly conditions of the retina, including:
- retinitis pigmentosa,
- retinitis punctata albescens,
- retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento
,
- related hereditary retinal degenerations,
- disorders that mimic retinitis pigmentosa,
- Leber's congenital amaurosis,
- choroideremia,
- gyrate atrophy of the choroid,
- gyrate atrophy of the retina,
- Goldman-Favre syndrome,
- congenital stationary night blindness,
- X-linked juvenile retinoschisis,
- achromatopsia,
- cone dystrophies, and
- Usher syndrome.
What is a multifocal ERG?
The multifocal ERG focuses on different areas of the retina, looking for localized areas of abnormality. This tests takes longer than a simple ERG.
What is a normal outcome for an ERG?
A normal ERG shows a normal A- and B-wave pattern with appropriate
increases in electrical activity with increased light intensities.
What does an abnormal ERG mean?
An abnormal ERG result suggests abnormal function of the retina due to diseases of the retina or abnormal function of the retina as occurs with other conditions such as arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) involving the eye vessels, giant cell arteritis with eye involvement, metabolic diseases called mucopolysaccharidoses, detachment of the retina, siderosis (excess iron deposits), and vitamin A deficiency.
Next: Does the test hurt? »
- Visual Field Test - Read about visual field testing and vision tests (Amsler grid, Humphrey-Zeiss and Goldman perimetry tests) for glaucoma and macular degeneration detection.
- Usher Syndrome - Learn about usher syndrome, the most genetic common condition that affects hearing and vision. Symptoms include hearing loss, and retinitis pigmentosa.
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