Short-term variability of the multifocal ERG in clinical settings

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) assesses retinal function.
• Repeat testing protocols are used to improve signal quality.
• Understanding the impact of repeat testing on mfERG parameters is crucial for accurate interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of repeat testing on multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) parameters.
• To assess changes in N1 and P1 amplitudes, signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios, and amplitude ring ratios (RR) between repeat mfERG recordings.
• To determine if repeat mfERG testing improves signal quality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of mfERG records from 08/2022 to 05/2023.
• Analysis of mfERG data from patients undergoing repeat testing at the same appointment.
• Evaluation of N1 and P1 amplitudes, SNR, and amplitude ring ratios for the first run, second run, and combined runs.

Main Results:

• No significant change in N1 or P1 amplitudes between the first and second mfERG runs.
• Combined run amplitudes decreased significantly compared to the first run.
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increased significantly from run #1 to run #2 for rings 2-5.
• Number of blinks decreased significantly between runs, indicating improved patient cooperation.

Conclusions:

• The second mfERG run demonstrates superior signal quality compared to the first.
• Clinicians should consider the potential decrease in P1 amplitude when using combined mfERG runs for final reports.
• Repeat mfERG testing can enhance data reliability and diagnostic accuracy.