Pattern Electroretinography Changes in Amblyopic Adults After Theta Burst Stimulation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Amblyopia, or 'lazy eye,' is a developmental disorder affecting visual acuity.
• Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a neuromodulation technique showing potential for amblyopia treatment.
• Pattern electroretinography (PERG) detects retinal function but its response to TBS in amblyopia is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of TBS on PERG responses in amblyopic individuals.
• To assess if TBS influences retinal function as measured by PERG.
• To explore the potential of PERG as a biomarker for TBS treatment efficacy in amblyopia.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four participants (12 amblyopic, 12 controls) underwent optometric exams.
• Pattern electroretinography (PERG) was performed before and after continuous right-hemisphere TBS.
• Visual acuity and eye alignment were also assessed.

Main Results:

• TBS significantly improved visual acuity in amblyopic eyes.
• A significant asymmetry in PERG P50-N95 amplitudes between amblyopic and normal eyes was initially observed.
• Following TBS, this asymmetry was no longer statistically significant, indicating normalized retinal responses.

Conclusions:

• Theta burst stimulation (TBS) enhances visual acuity in amblyopia.
• TBS influences PERG responses, suggesting PERG is sensitive to functional changes induced by TBS.
• PERG shows promise for monitoring amblyopia treatment and guiding future research.