Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Electroretinogram Recording for Infants and Children under Anesthesia to Achieve Optimal Dark Adaptation and International Standards
Published on: September 3, 2020
Dark-adapted oscillatory potentials in preterm infants with and without retinopathy of prematurity
Helen Mactier1, Michael S Bradnam, Ruth Hamilton
1Neonatal Unit, Princess Royal Maternity, 8-16, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 2ER, Scotland, UK. helen.mactier@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Insights
Dark-adapted oscillatory potentials (OPs) in electroretinograms (ERGs) are detectable in preterm infants by 30 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA). Reduced OPs may indicate retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Oscillatory potentials (OPs) in electroretinograms (ERGs) reflect inner retinal function.
- Assessing retinal maturation in preterm infants is crucial for early detection of visual impairments.
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of vision loss in premature infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the development and maturation of dark-adapted OPs in preterm infants' ERGs.
- To investigate the influence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) on OP appearance and amplitude.
Main Methods:
- Dark-adapted ERGs were recorded from preterm infants (born <31 weeks gestation or ≤1,250g birth weight).
- Recordings were performed during ROP screening and follow-up visits.
- Flash luminance was standardized at 11.3 scot cd·s·m⁻².
Main Results:
- OPs were detectable from 30+5 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), present in 50% by 36 weeks PMA, and all infants by 50 weeks PMA.
- OP amplitudes increased and peak times decreased with increasing infant maturity.
- Infants with threshold ROP showed smaller summed OP amplitudes before treatment and significantly smaller amplitudes by 50 weeks PMA compared to controls.
- The presence of OP1 was significantly reduced in infants who developed stage 3 or worse ROP.
Conclusions:
- Dark-adapted OPs are recordable in preterm infants starting around 30 weeks PMA.
- A relative suppression of early OPs may serve as an early indicator for the development of ROP.
- ERG-based OP analysis offers a potential tool for monitoring retinal development and detecting ROP in high-risk infants.
Purpose:
To describe the appearance and maturation of dark-adapted oscillatory potentials (OPs) in electroretinograms (ERGs) recorded from preterm infants, and to determine any effect of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods:
Dark-adapted ERGs were recorded in conjunction with screening for ROP and at outpatient follow-up, using a flash luminance of 11.3 scot cd s m(-2) (4.06 phot cd s m(-2)). Eligible infants were born before 31 weeks' gestation and/or weighed ≤1,250 grams at birth.
Results:
Presence or absence of OPs was established for 68 ERG recordings from 38 infants at maturities ranging from 30 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) to 28 weeks' post-term corrected age. 20 infants did not develop ROP, eight developed stage 1, one stage 2 and one stage 3 disease which regressed spontaneously. Eight infants received treatment for threshold ROP. OPs were present in 50 % of infants at 36 weeks' PMA and in all by 50 weeks' PMA. The earliest appearance of OPs was at 30+5 weeks' PMA. Individual OP amplitudes increased and peak time of individual OPs decreased with increasing maturity. For infants with threshold ROP summed OP amplitudes tended to be smaller prior to treatment (6.5 vs 9.9μV, P = 0.09) and were significantly smaller by 50 weeks' PMA (14 vs 30μV, P = 0.007). OP1 was less likely to be present in infants who developed stage 3 or worse ROP (P = 0.000).
Conclusions:
Dark-adapted OPs are recordable in some preterm infants from 30 weeks' PMA. Relative suppression of early OPs is a potential marker for developing ROP.
