Electroretinograms recorded with skin electrodes in silicone oil-filled eyes

Abstract

Purpose To assess the physiology of the retina by electroretinography (ERG) with skin electrodes in eyes that had undergone vitrectomy with silicone oil (SO) tamponade. Design Retrospective case series. Method ERGs were recorded from eleven eyes with complex vitreoretinal disorders and from the normal fellow eyes. The affected eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with SO tamponade. ERGs were recorded before and after the SO was removed. The amplitudes and implicit times of the a- and b-waves of the affected eyes were compared to those of the normal fellow eyes. In addition, the ratios of the amplitudes of the b-waves of the affected eyes to those of the fellow eyes were compared before and after the SO was removed. Results ERGs were recordable from 7 eyes (63.6%) before the SO was removed and 11 eyes (100%) after the SO was removed. The a- and b-wave amplitudes were significantly smaller in the affected eyes than those of the fellow eyes at the baseline. The b-wave amplitude before the removal of the SO was significantly and positively correlated with that after the SO removal. The ratios of the b-waves of the affected/normal fellow eye significantly increased after the SO was removed. Conclusion The results indicate that ERGs picked up by skin electrode can be used to assess the physiology of the retina in eyes with a SO tamponade. The amplitude of the b-waves of the ERGs in silicone-filled eyes can be used to predict the amplitude after the silicone is removed.

Electroretinogram changes before and after silicone oil removal in eyes with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

“…Electrophysiological responses in the SO-filled eyes have been evaluated [17-20, 31, 32]. Several studies have analyzed electroretinographic recordings of the eyes with intravitreal SO under different vitreoretinal conditions, such as primary, recurrent, or posttraumatic RRD, myopic degeneration, and endophthalmitis [19,33,34]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study focusing exclusively on the eyes with macula-off RRD repaired successfully with a single surgical procedure accompanied by intravitreal SO tamponade using both ff ERG and mf ERG recordings.…”

“…The explanations regarding electrophysiologic findings following vitreoretinal surgery with SO tamponade are conflicting [18,19,32,34]. Previous studies mainly referred to the impact of intravitreal SO on the characteristics of ff ERG waveforms [27,28,30,32,35], with limited reference to mf ERG [33].…”

“…The latter indicates a potentially incomplete functional recovery of the retina [36,19]. ERG waveforms can be recorded even in the presence of a non-conductive agent [34]. Some studies have suggested that ff ERG responses are diminished or even unrecordable in the SO-filled eyes compared to the healthy eyes [19,37].…”

“…Ozaki et al [34] reported that ERG waveforms before and after SO removal were significantly and positively correlated. Therefore, they proposed that the wave amplitude in the SO-filled eyes could be used to predict the amplitude and, in turn, retinal function after SO removal.…”

Electroretinograms Recorded with Skin Electrodes from Post-Vitrectomy Silicone Oil Filled Eyes with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

“… 12–14 These ERGs were recorded using corneal contact lens electrodes or DTL electrodes, and only limited information is available on studies using skin electrodes in eyes with a SO tamponade. 15 In addition, there have not been any reports on eyes with vascular occlusive diseases such as PDR that had a SO tamponade.…”