[Effect of intraocular irrigating solution on flicker electroretinogram during cataract surgery in humans]

We studied the effects of intraocular irrigating solutions on the 30Hz flicker electroretinogram (ERG) during extracapsular cataract surgery in 45 eyes of 35 patients. The effects of two commercially available irrigating solutions. S-MA2 (Opeguard MA) and DE-057 (BSS Plus) were compared. After irrigation and aspiration (I/A) of the residual cortex with S-MA2, ERG amplitude increased to 111.2 +/- 5.8% of the pre-I/A amplitude. It significantly increased to 116.9 +/- 7.0% at the end of operation (p < 0.05) compared with before I/A. After I/A with DE-057, ERG amplitude increased to 109.5 +/- 5.3% of the pre-I/A amplitude. It significantly increased to 115.7 +/- 6.5% at the end of operation (p < 0.05) compared with before I/A. After I/A with S-MA2, ERG peak time was significantly prolonged to 103.9 +/- 0.8% of the pre-I/A peak time (p < 0.01). It was significantly shortened to 101.5 +/- 0.9% at the end of the operation (p < 0.001) compared with after I/A. After with DE-057, ERG peak time was significantly prolonged to 104.2 +/- 1.2% of the pre-I/A peak time (p < 0.01). It was significantly shortened to 101.3 +/- 1.22% at the end of the operation (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences between changes of amplitude and peak time with S-MA2 and those with DE-057. We speculated that a drop in the retinal temperature during I/A in the anterior chamber and an increment of the photopic ERG amplitude during light adaptation with the operating microscope caused these ERG changes.