Visual function deficits in glaucoma. Electroretinogram pattern and luminance nonlinearities

The pattern electroretinogram is abnormal in glaucoma. Part of the pattern electroretinogram may be attributed to the summation of responses to luminance increases and decreases (nonlinear luminance responses). We conducted a study to investigate the effect of glaucoma on the pattern electroretinogram component waves and to determine if the flicker electroretinogram nonlinear components are abnormal in glaucoma. We tested 35 subjects in two replications of four conditions: 10- and 20-Hz flicker, and 4- and 10-Hz pattern reversal. Only the even harmonics were recorded. The patients with glaucoma had reduced electroretinogram amplitudes for all measures relative to the normal subjects. Electroretinogram amplitudes of those suspected of having glaucoma were intermediate. The greatest amplitude reductions were for the 10-Hz flicker electroretinogram and the 4-Hz pattern electroretinogram. These results confirm pattern electroretinogram abnormalities and reveal flicker electroretinogram abnormalities in glaucoma.