Full-Field Electroretinography Changes Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review with...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Retinal Imaging

Background:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss.
• Understanding the extent of retinal dysfunction in AMD is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze full-field electroretinography (ffERG) data.
• To compare retinal function between healthy controls and individuals with AMD.
• To map the extent of retinal dysfunction in AMD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of 11 databases.
• Meta-analysis of ffERG data (a-wave and b-wave function).
• Comparison of dark- and light-adapted ffERG between AMD and control groups.
• Subgroup analysis for early and late AMD stages.

Main Results:

• Any AMD was associated with reduced a-wave and b-wave amplitudes in dark-adapted conditions.
• Any AMD showed longer a-wave implicit time and reduced b-wave amplitude in light-adapted conditions.
• These functional deficits were statistically significant only in eyes with late AMD, not early AMD.

Conclusions:

• Reduced retinal function on ffERG is evident in AMD patients, especially those with late-stage disease.
• AMD appears to be a pan-retinal disease, affecting photoreceptors beyond the macula.
• ffERG is a valuable tool for assessing widespread retinal dysfunction in AMD.