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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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Multifocal Electroretinograms
Published on: December 4, 2011
Repeatability of the multifocal visual evoked potentials in a clinical glaucoma setting
Omar S Punjabi1, Robert L Stamper, Alan G Bostrom
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California at San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143-0730, USA.
Summary
The multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP) test shows good reproducibility in glaucoma patients. However, test variability increases with lower signal-to-noise ratios, impacting diagnostic reliability.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Glaucoma diagnosis relies on visual field testing.
- Multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP) offer detailed visual field assessment.
- Understanding mfVEP test-retest reliability is crucial for clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of mfVEP test results in a clinical glaucoma setting.
- To identify factors influencing mfVEP test variability.
Main Methods:
- Observational case series of 29 adult open-angle glaucoma patients and suspects.
- Monocular mfVEP tests performed twice within 4 weeks on both eyes.
- Analysis of AccuMap severity index (ASI) and amplitudes using intraclass correlations (ICCs).
- Investigation of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and field defect severity effects on reproducibility.
Main Results:
- High average ICCs for ASI (0.84) and amplitudes (0.87) indicate good reliability.
- Most eyes (46/58) maintained their diagnostic category upon retesting.
- Significant differences noted in specific sectors, particularly in the left eye (6 sectors).
- Lower SNR was associated with larger test-retest differences (Spearman p = 0.022).
Conclusions:
- mfVEP demonstrates good overall repeat reliability in glaucoma patients.
- Variability is higher in individuals with increased test noise (lower SNR).
- While generally reliable, isolated significant differences warrant careful interpretation in clinical practice.
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