THURSDAY, Dec. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Pattern electroretinogram optimized for glaucoma screening (PERGLA) appears useful in measuring the reversal of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction following surgical treatment of intraocular pressure, according to research published in the December issue of Ophthalmology.
Mitra Sehi, Ph.D., of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and colleagues analyzed data from 47 patients with uncontrolled intraocular pressure or progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Patients underwent trabeculectomy or aqueous drainage device implantation, and had an ocular examination and PERGLA before and three months after surgery.
The researchers found that mean postoperative intraocular pressure was significantly lower than values before surgery. Mean PERGLA amplitude was significantly increased postoperatively compared to before surgery (0.46 versus 0.37 µV). PERGLA phase was reduced after surgery (1.72 versus 1.81 π-radian), while mean ocular perfusion pressure was increased after the surgery (53.1 versus 45.8 mm Hg).
"In this study, both amplitude and phase displayed significant postoperative changes; amplitude increased and phase decreased compared with baseline. An increase in PERGLA amplitude implies that viable RGCs were able to generate a stronger electrical signal after surgery. Similarly, the reduced PERGLA phase after surgery suggests a reduction in latency, which is consistent with RGC functional recovery. It remains to be established whether the observed changes in PERGLA amplitude and phase in the early postoperative period are maintained with extended follow-up," the authors write.
The study was supported in part by a grant from Allergan Inc. A co-author disclosed financial relationships with Allergan and Carl Zeiss Meditec.
Abstract
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