Multifocal electroretinography in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen

The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) on retinal function by multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), and combined simultaneous confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

We included 19 eyes of 15 patients with RPD in the posterior pole and no other phenotypic retinal alteration were included (7 females and 8 males, age 77.2 ± 5.1 years) as well as 24 eyes of 17 healthy control subjects (7 females and 10 males, age 73.2 ± 5.9 years). All patients underwent fundus photography, SD-OCT, fluorescence angiography (FA), fundus autofluorescence, and near-infrared reflectance cSLO. mfERG measurements were performed by stimulating the retina by a field of 103 hexagons covering an area of approximately 30°. Amplitudes and latencies of focal retinal responses obtained at affected and nonaffected sites of RPD eyes and retinal responses of healthy control subjects were compared.

In all included study eyes, RPD stages 1-3 could be demonstrated clearly in SD-OCT, FA, and cSLO. The mean amplitudes measured in the areas affected by RPD were 12.5 to 53.1 nV/deg² (control group 19.4-50.1 nV/deg²). The mean latencies were 33.2 to 41.3 ms (control group 33.6-39.7 ms). mfERG amplitudes and latencies of retinal areas affected by RPD were not altered significantly when compared to corresponding nonaffected areas.

mfERG measurements did not show a definite influence on electrophysiologic activity in retinal areas affected exclusively with RPD.