Ambient lighting alters pattern electroretinogram P50 peak time and spatial sensitivity

Our aim was to explore the effect of ambient lighting on the pattern ERG (PERG).

We compared PERGs recorded in two conditions; room lights on and room lights off. PERGs from 21 adult participants were recorded from each eye to high contrast checks of 50' side width, reversing 3rps in a large (30°) and then standard (15°) field. This was performed first in lights-ON conditions, then 2 min after the room lights were switched off. A minimum of 2 averages of 300 trials were acquired for each condition. A subset of 10 participants had PERGs recorded to a 50' check width with a range of stimulus contrasts (96-18%), also to a range of different check widths (100'-12') at high contrast in both ambient lighting conditions in a 30° field.

The lights-ON P50 median peak time (PT) was 3 ms earlier than the lights-OFF P50 from the 30° field (range 0-5 ms) and 15° field (range 0-6 ms). The earlier lights-ON P50 PT was evident at different stimulus contrasts, even after accounting for stimulus contrast reductions associated with stray ambient lighting in lights-ON conditions. Lights-OFF and lights-ON P50 PT were similar to different check widths; the lights-OFF P50 PT to a 50' check width matched the lights-ON P50 PT to a 25' check width.

PERG P50 PT in lights-ON ambient light conditions can be earlier than in lights-OFF ambient light conditions. The difference in P50 PT with ambient light may reflect alterations in spatial sensitivity associated with retinal adaptation. These results emphasise the clinical importance of consistent ambient lighting for PERG recording and calibration.