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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Electroretinogram Recording for Infants and Children under Anesthesia to Achieve Optimal Dark Adaptation and International Standards
Published on: September 3, 2020
[Characteristics of normal infants' flash electroretinograms]
Caijiao Liu1, Shixian Long, Dezheng Wu
1Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Insights
Retinal function in Chinese infants aged 4-5 months shows developing rod and cone responses, with cone function maturing faster than rod function compared to adults. Further research is needed to fully understand infant visual development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Visual Electrophysiology
Context:
- Infant visual development is crucial for early learning and interaction.
- Understanding normative retinal function in infants is essential for diagnosing visual impairments.
- Chinese infant population data provides specific insights into visual development.
Purpose:
- To characterize the electroretinographic (ERG) retinal function in Chinese infants aged 4 to 5 months.
- To compare the developing rod and cone responses in infants with adult normative values.
- To assess the maturational trajectory of visual pathways during early infancy.
Summary:
- Flash electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded from 4- and 5-month-old infants and adults.
- Infant ERG amplitudes were lower and latencies longer than adults, indicating immature retinal function.
- Cone responses showed more rapid development and maturation than rod responses between 4 and 5 months of age.
Impact:
- Establishes normative ERG data for Chinese infants aged 4-5 months.
- Highlights differential maturation rates of rod and cone pathways in early visual development.
- Provides a baseline for future studies on visual development and potential early detection of visual disorders in infants.
Purpose:
To investigate the characteristic of retinal function of Chinese infants with ages ranging from 4 to 5 months.
Methods:
The flash electroetinograms(ERGs) of 17 infants(34 eyes) of 4 months, 13 infants (26 eyes) of 5 months and 39 adults (78 eyes) were tested. Their rod responses, cone responses and maximal combined responses were recorded. The amplitudes and latencies of b waves were compared and analyzed among the 2 infant groups and the adult group.
Results:
In each of 2 infant groups, of all 3 responses, the means of amplitudes were significantly lower and latencies were significantly longer than those of adults. Between the 2 infants groups, rod responses and maximal combined responses were not significantly different, but the cone responses were significantly different, the infants group with age of 5 months has higher amplitude and shorter latency. The average amplitudes of the rod responses of the 4 months infant group and the 5 months infant group were 38.9% and 36.7% of that of the adult group respectively; the average amplitudes of the cone responses of the 4 months infant group and thd 5 months infant group were 62.6% and 71.5% of that of the adult group respectively.
Conclusions:
Between the ages ranging from 4 to 5 months, all of the responses of the infant ERG had not reached the levels of adult. Cone response developed more rapidly and was more mature than rod response.
