Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Assessing Early Stage Open-Angle Glaucoma in Patients by Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential
Published on: May 25, 2020
Associations between steady-state pattern electroretinography and estimated retinal ganglion cell count in glaucoma
Andrew Tirsi1,2,3, Derek Orshan4,5, Benny Wong6,5
1Department of Ophthalmology, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, Northwell Health, New York, NY, USA. atirsi@northwell.edu.
Purpose:
To estimate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) count in glaucoma suspects (GS) and ascertain its relationships with steady-state pattern electroretinography (ssPERG) parameters.
Methods:
In this prospective cross-sectional study, 22 subjects (44 eyes) were recruited at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. Subjects underwent complete eye examinations, optical coherence tomography, standard automated perimetry, and ssPERG testing. Eyes were divided into two groups based upon clinical data: healthy subjects and GS. RGC count was estimated using the combined structure-function index.
Results:
Estimated RGC count, average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (ARNFLT), and average ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer thickness (GCIPLT) were reduced in GS eyes (p ≤ 0.001 for all parameters). Pearson correlations revealed that ssPERG magnitude and magnitudeD correlated with ARNFLT (r ≥ 0.53, p < 0.001), GCIPLT (r > 0.38, p < 0.011), and estimated RGC count (r > 0.46, p < 0.002). Six mediation analyses revealed that estimated RGC count mediated the relationships among ssPERG parameters, ARNFLT, and GCIPLT.
Conclusion:
Steady-state PERG parameters demonstrated linear correlations with estimated RGC count. The associations among ssPERG parameters and structural measures were mediated by estimated RGC count.
