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Electroretinography

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Abstract

The electroretinogram (ERG) is the electrical response generated in the retina by photic stimulation. A flash of light or a stimulating pattern produces a biphasic waveform. The initial large negative a-wave originates in the receptor level of rods and cones. The following large positive component, the b-wave, originates in the mid-retina. Full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) are recorded to determine the global health of the retina such as in retinitis pigmentosa. A limitation of the full-field ERG is that it is not sensitive to small areas of dysfunction in the retina. Multifocal ERGs (mfERGs) display the responses in millimeter-by-millimeter mapping of the central 60 degrees of visual field. The status and progression of retinal diseases or drug toxicity can be measured and quantified with ERGs. Flash stimuli vary in their sensitivity to retinal dysfunction. For example, scotopic dim blue and red flash ERGs are most sensitive to systemic metabolic disorders and are usually the best stimuli to follow progression of disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Donnell Creel

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Eye Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Minzhong Yu

Authors
  1. Donnell Creel
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  2. Minzhong Yu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donnell Creel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Eye Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Minzhong Yu

  2. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Donnell Creel

  3. Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Durham, NC, USA

    Alessandro Iannaccone

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Creel, D., Yu, M. (2019). Electroretinography. In: Yu, M., Creel, D., Iannaccone, A. (eds) Handbook of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30417-1_1

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