30 Hz-flicker mfERG in primary open-angle glaucoma patients : 30 Hz-flicker-mfERG in POAG.

Purpose: This study was performed in an attempt to gain more information on whether the 30 Hz-flicker mfERG indeed provides a sensitive measure of dysfunction in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) as has been suggested previously.

Methods: Eighteen POAG patients with visual field defects (MD > 2.2 dB) and glaucomatous optic neuropathies as well as 10 control subjects underwent mfERG recording as follows: 30 Hz-flicker mfERG, LED stimulus screen, 61 hexagons, Lmax: 180 cd/m2, Lmin: 0 cd/m2, recording time: approximately 5 min, filter setting: 10-200 Hz. The 30 Hz response (also called the fundamental or the first harmonic response (1HW) and the second harmonic wave at 60 Hz (2HW) were analysed as an overall response and in quadrants, as well as in 4 small neighbouring areas per quadrant. The patients' mfERGs were compared to those of the control group and to the mean defect values (MD) of the corresponding quadrants of the Octopus perimetry.

Results: Neither in the overall response, nor in the quadrants, nor in the smaller areas examined did amplitudes and phases of the 1HW and the 2HW or the amplitude ratio of the 2HW to the 1HW (DFT-ratio) differ from the controls (P > 0.05-ANOVA). There was no significant correlation between mfERG values and the MD (Spearman-test, Bonferroni).

Conclusion: Thus, the 30 Hz-flicker mfERG does not seem to be sensitive enough to separate glaucoma patients from normal.