[Clinical observation of electroretinogram examination in ocular alkali burn]

Objective: To investigate the wave variations of the electroretinography (ERG), and explore the clinical value of using ERG in alkali injury. Methods: A total of 13 patients with alkali burns who were treated in the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking University Third Hospital from May 2018 to October 2019 were selected, including 12 males and 1 female. The age ranged from 19 to 60 years old. A total of 15 injured eyes were used as the alkali burn group, meanwhile, another 15 contralateral eyes with mechanical unilateral trauma were used as the healthy controls. ERG examination was performed to compare the amplitudes of 6 activation-induced responses between the two groups. Results: Compared with control group, b-wave amplitude of dark adaption 0.01 ERG in alkali injury group decreased [(137±23) μV vs (348±14) μV, P<0.001]. Compared with control group [(335±17) μV and (368±19) μV], a-wave amplitude of dark adaption 3.0 ERG and 10.0 ERG in alkali injury groups [(172±20) μV and (220±21) μV] were decreased (both P<0.001). As for b-wave amplitude of dark adaption 3.0 ERG and 10.0 ERG, compared with control group [(610±20) μV and (612±19) μV], those of alkali injury groups [(359±21) μV and (384±21) μV] were decreased (both P<0.001). In terms of oscillatory potentials (OPs) amplitude of dark 3.0 ERG adaption, compared with control group [(209±8) μV], that of alkali injury group [(94±13) μV] was decreased (P<0.001). Compared with normal group [(58±3) μV], a-wave amplitude of light adaption 3.0 ERG in alkali injury group [(40±4) μV] was decreased (P<0.001). As for b-wave amplitude of light adaption 3.0 ERG, compared with control group [(146±6) μV], that of alkali injury group [(90±11) μV] was decreased (P<0.001). In terms of photopic 3.0 flicker 30 Hz of light adaption, compared with control group [(166±10) μV], that of alkali injury group [(93±11) μV] was decreased (P<0.001). Conclusion: Alkali injury can cause ocular surface morphological changes, meanwhile, it leads to the alternations of the visual function.