Pattern electroretinogram and automated perimetry in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension

To determine whether the pattern electroretinogram can improve the objectivity of visual field assessment, 39 patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension were studied. This was to establish whether there is a correlation between the pattern electroretinogram and the global indices (mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation) provided by automated perimetry using the Humphrey visual field analyser. A significant correlation was found between the amplitude of the P50 + N95 wave of the pattern electroretinogram and the mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation components of the visual field. The larger the deviation from normal of these indices, particularly the corrected pattern standard deviation, the smaller the amplitude of the pattern electroretinogram. This correlation between the pattern electroretinogram and visual field indices provides an additional measure of confidence when interpreting equivocal results of automated perimetry.