Skip to main content
Log in

The influence of luminance on the multifocal ERG

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Documenta Ophthalmologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the efficacy of high luminance in increasing the amplitude of the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG). We examined 5 male and 5 female volunteers in the age of 22–52 years (median 28 years). Three different stimulus luminance levels were applied: the bright areas of the stimulus pattern were set to 150, 300 and 500 cd/m2. We recorded the potentials via DTL electrodes using the VERIS Science 4.4 system with 61 hexagons, pupils were dilated. Analysis was based on the 5 ring averages.

Results

Across all hexagons and subjects, the response density (∼amplitude) rose by 20% when increasing the luminance by a factor of 3.3. The peak times decreased slightly with higher luminance, by less then 1.5 ms.

Conclusions

Combining the present results with those from two previous studies, the gain (= relative amplitude increase for relative luminance increase) is close to 0.4 over a range of 56–700 cd/m2. The stimulus luminance range suggested in the mfERG guidelines seems well chosen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

mfERG:

Multifocal ERG

CRT:

Cathode ray tube

References

  1. Bach M (1998) Preparation and Montage of DTL-Electrodes. Retrieved 28.07.2006, from <http://www.michaelbach.de/dtl.html>

  2. Dawson WW, Trick GL, Litzkow CA (1979) Improved electrode for electroretinography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 18:988–991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gerth C, Garcia SM, Ma L, Keltner JL, Werner JS (2002) Multifocal electroretinogram: age-related changes for different luminance levels. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 240:202–208

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hood DC, Frishman LJ, Saszik S, Viswanathan S (2002) Retinal origins of the primate multifocal ERG: implications for the human response. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:1673–1685

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hood DC, Odel JG, Chen CS, Winn BJ (2003) The multifocal electroretinogram. J Neuroophthalmol 23:225–235

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Marmor MF, Hood DC, Keating D, Kondo M, Seeliger MW, Miyake Y (2003) Guidelines for basic multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). Doc Ophthalmol 106:105–115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Raz D, Seeliger MW, Geva AB, Percicot CL, Lambrou GN, Ofri R (2002) The effect of contrast and luminance on mfERG responses in a monkey model of glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:2027–2035

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. R Development Core Team (2006) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Retrieved 31.07.2006, from <http://www.R-project.org>

  9. Sutter EE, Tran D (1992) The field topography of ERG components in man—I. The photopic luminance response. Vis Res 32:433–446

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ueno S, Kondo M, Niwa Y, Terasaki H, Miyake Y (2004) Luminance dependence of neural components that underlies the primate photopic electroretinogram. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:1033–1040

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Yoshii M, Yanashima K, Wakaguri T, Sakemi F, Kikuchi Y, Suzuki S, Okisaka S (2000) A basic investigation of multifocal electroretinogram: reproducibility and effect of luminance. Jpn J Ophthalmol 44:122–127

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank our subjects for their ready cooperation and two anonymous reviewers for thorough critique and valuable suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Bach.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schimitzek, T., Bach, M. The influence of luminance on the multifocal ERG. Doc Ophthalmol 113, 187–192 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-006-9028-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-006-9028-7

Keywords

Navigation