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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns
Published on: May 12, 2019
Prognostic value of transient pattern visual evoked potentials in children with cerebral visual impairment
Jessica Howes1, Dorothy Thompson2, Alki Liasis3
1University College London Medical School, London, UK.
Aim:
To investigate whether pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEPs) could predict future visual acuity in infants with cerebral visual impairment (CVI).
Method:
Fifty-five children (27 males, 28 females) with severe CVI seen in the ophthalmology department of a specialist children's hospital were identified retrospectively. Behavioural visual acuity and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) at presentation (time 1, T1) were compared with final visual acuity at late preschool/early school age (time 2, T2). Predictors of visual acuity at T2 were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic and linear regression analysis.
Results:
Median age was 14 months at T1 (range: 6-44mo) and 63 months at T2 (range: 29-150mo). The presence of a PRVEP produced by a check width of 50' (minutes of arc) or smaller (T1) predicted (p=0.05) the presence of measurable preferential looking acuity at T2. The presence of PRVEP to check widths of 25' or smaller (T1) predicted (p=0.02) better preferential looking acuity (logMAR-equivalent) scores at T2. The latter association was independent of presenting acuity at T1.
Interpretation:
The presence of PRVEPs to check widths of 50' and 25' in infancy provided useful information. VEPs in young children with CVI may have prognostic value regarding future acuity.
