Improvement of pattern electroretinogram parameters following glaucoma surgery

To assess the dynamics of Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG) parameters following glaucoma surgery in individuals with glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

The is a single center retrospective study. Preoperative PERG were conducted on moderate and advanced glaucoma patients scheduled for glaucoma surgery. Subsequently, the patients underwent an additional PERG a few months after the procedure. Comparative analysis focused on the PERG parameters (Mag, MagD and MagD/Mag ratio) before and after the glaucoma surgery in eyes achieving successful intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction post-operatively.

The study enrolled 23 eyes from 21 consecutive patients who underwent successful glaucoma surgery between January 2021 and December 2023, each with both pre and post-operative PERG assessments. Postoperatively, there was a significant improvement of all the PERG parameters (0.97 ± 0.29 to 1.36 ± 0.29 μV, 0.55 ± 0.3 to 0.84 ± 0.42 μV, 0.52 ± 0.2 to 0.68 ± 0.25 for Mag, MagD and MagD/Mag ratio respectively, all p < 0.05). Three patients who had no IOP reduction postoperatively showed no improvement of all PERG parameters following the surgery.

Glaucoma surgery, leading to effective IOP reduction, may demonstrate a positive impact on the functional activity of the retinal ganglion cells, as evidenced by the enhancement in PERG parameters post-operatively.