[Effect of aging on visual evoked potentials]

Experimental and clinical studies, aiming to establish the influence of aging on latence, amplitude and types of waves of visual evoked potentials (VEP) are numerous. It was concluded that P-100 latence prolonged with aging, particularly after the age of 55, while P-100 amplitude had been gradually decreased during the life. During the aging, senile changes in the eye and optic nerve (for example, senile miosis, degenerative retinal changes, geniculostraital defect) can be reflected to the changes in VEP (P-100). Aim of our study was to establish if the aging influences the alteration in latence and wave amplitude in VEP, as well as to standardize normal values of VEP in different ages. VEP was registered in 135 subjects classified into 3 groups. Group I comprised 49 subjects, aged 17-30 (average age 20.92 years), group II comprised 34 subjects aged 31-54 years (average 42.55 years). Group III--over 55 years (average age 69 years) comprised 52 subjects. There were 55 females and 80 males. Results have shown that the mean value of amplitude for both eyes in the first two groups of younger subjects was 9.03 microV and 8.91 microV, respectively, while in the group of older subjects, it was slightly decreased--8.54 microV. P-100 latence prolonged insignificantly until the age of 55, and afterwards in every 5 years it increased for 1.5 ms. Amplitude was insignificantly lower latence in VEP was insignificantly prolonged until the age of 55, and afterwards, the increase was significant. Amplitude was decreased insignificantly, gradually during the life.