[Use of pattern and flash visual evoked potentials in differential diagnosis of optic neuropathy]

To assess the value of pattern and flash stimulus of visual evoked potentials (VEP) in patients with optic neuropathy.

The study involved 11 patients with compressive optic neuropathy, 19 with acute optic neuritis and 22 with demyelinating optic neuropathy. The control group included 20 persons without history of ocular and neuroophthalmologic diseases. In all patients VEP were performed using pattern and flash stimulus. Multidimensional analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used which allowed to evaluate the differentiation efficacy in respective parameters as well as the whole distinguishable classes.

The efficacy of differential diagnosis of examined optic neuropathy with pattern or flash VEP was not sufficient. Better results were achieved when both types of stimulus were applied in the same patient.