Pattern ERG and VEP maturation in schoolchildren

The maturation of the visual system has been studied with pattern electroretinograms (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) mostly in children under the age of 6 years. To address the question of maturation of the visual system in childhood and adolescence we investigated age-dependent PERG and PVEP changes in children aged 7-18 years.

PERG were recorded with skin electrodes attached to the lower eyelid, and PVEP were recorded with 5 electrodes. Visual stimuli, consisting of pattern-reversal 50' checks to full-field and to half-field stimulation, were applied to obtain macular (N70, P100, N145) and paramacular waves (P80, N105, N135).

We found an age-dependent decrease (linear regression P<0.05) of PERG P50 amplitude and full-field PVEP P100 latency to monocular right and left eye stimulation, indicating central retinal and postretinal changes. In addition, waveform changes were found in responses to half-field stimulation. The paramacular wave N105 was typically enhanced in younger schoolchildren and diminished with age. The age-dependent decrease (linear regression P<0.01) of paramacular N105 amplitude indicated the increasing predominance of the macular structures of the visual system.

Our findings suggest that central retinal and postretinal electrophysiological maturation persists throughout childhood. Age-dependent PVEP changes seem to correlate with the morphological and metabolic findings that maturation of the visual cortex continues until puberty and even later.