The ERG c-wave in vitelliruptive macular degeneration (VMD)

D.c. ERG registrations and EOG recordings were obtained from six patients with vitelliruptive macular degeneration (VMD). In all cases the EOG was highly pathological, but the alpha- and beta-waves of the ERG were normal. This is typical of VMD, which starts as a generalized defect of the pigment epithelium. Four patients showed no evidence of a c-wave. The other patients demonstrated small c-waves, but only under certain stimulus conditions. Thus, varying stimulus durations, intensities and frequencies are sometimes needed to decide whether or not ERG c-waves can be elicited in different diseases or suspected disorders. The findings are in agreement with the presence of a generalized pigment epithelial defect in VMD, since the major positive component of the c-wave is generated by the pigment epithelium-receptor complex.