Flicker retinal vasodilation test using a combination of conventional electroretinogram flicker luminescence and blue...

Currently, the only available objective measure of functioning of the retinal neuro-vascular unit (NVU) is the flicker retinal vasodilation test (FRVT). The FRVT measures change in retinal vessel diameter after exposure to flickers of light. Unfortunately, it is dependent on a technically adept machine, which is not readily available. In this hypothesis, we propose utilization of 2 commonly available retinal diagnostic tools, the electroretinogram (ERG) and the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy-based fundus auto fluorescence (cSLO-FAF), for performing the FRVT. While the conventional machine based FRVT was performing the flicker luminescence and retinal imaging simultaneously, our hypothesized protocol is dependent on a rapidly performed 2 staged test, the effects of which need to be elicited in a pilot study. As neuroprotection is becoming a therapeutic reality for diseases like diabetic retinopathy, such adaptations may make research and therapy easier.