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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Multifocal Electroretinograms
Published on: December 4, 2011
Multifocal ERG in subjects with a history of retinopathy of prematurity
Anne B Fulton1, Ronald M Hansen, Anne Moskowitz
1Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. anne.fulton@childrens.harvard.edu
Insights
Mild retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can cause subtle central retinal dysfunction, impacting neural development and visual function in young adults. Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) reveals reduced retinal amplitude and delayed responses in ROP patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Retinal Physiology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a condition affecting premature infants, potentially leading to long-term visual impairment.
- Central retinal function, particularly macular integrity, is crucial for detailed vision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional status of the central retina in individuals with a history of mild ROP.
- To assess potential subtle visual deficits not always apparent in standard eye examinations.
Main Methods:
- Multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) was used to record retinal responses in 11 subjects (aged 11-23 years) with a history of ROP.
- Responses from six concentric rings were analyzed and compared to those of 9 healthy control subjects, focusing on amplitude and implicit time of key components.
Main Results:
- Retinal amplitude was significantly reduced in ROP subjects compared to controls, with the greatest differences in central retinal areas.
- Implicit times for all components were longer in ROP subjects across all eccentricities.
- The relationship between response density and visual angle eccentricity differed significantly between groups.
Conclusions:
- Alterations in neural retinal development due to ROP may result in subtle macular dysfunction.
- mfERG is a valuable tool for detecting these subclinical visual impairments in ROP survivors.
Purpose:
Investigate the function of the central retina in subjects with a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods:
Multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) responses to a scaled array of 103 hexagons were recorded in subjects, aged 11-23 years (N = 11), with a documented history of mild ROP. The amplitude and implicit time of the components (N(1), P(1), N(2)) of the first order kernel for six concentric rings were compared to those of control subjects (N = 9).
Results:
The amplitude of each component varied significantly with eccentricity in both ROP and control subjects and was significantly smaller in the ROP subjects. The discrepancy between ROP and control subjects was greatest for central rings (1-3) and smaller for peripheral rings (4-6). The slopes of the functions summarizing log response density as a function of log eccentricity (degrees visual angle) were significantly shallower in ROP subjects. The implicit time of each component was longer in ROP subjects at all eccentricities.
Conclusions:
ROP associated alterations in neural retinal development may underlie the subtle macular dysfunction disclosed by the mfERG.
