Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neural conduction in the visual pathways in ocular hypertension and glaucoma

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

• Background: The aim of our work was to evaluate neural conduction in visual pathways in subjects with ocular hypertension and glaucoma. • Methods: We assessed simultaneous recordings of pattern electroretinograms (PERG) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) in 16 subjects with ocular hypertension (OHT), in 16 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and in 15 age-matched controls. The visual stimuli were checkerboard patterns (the check edges subtend 15 min of visual arc; contrast 70%) reversed at the rate of 2 reversals/s.• Results: In OHT and POAG patients we found PERG and VEP latencies signficantly longer than in controls. The P50-N95 PERG amplitudes were significantly reduced in OHT and POAG eyes. VEP amplitudes were significantly reduced in POAG eyes, while in OHT they were similar to controls. The retinocortical time (RCT; difference between VEP P100 latency and PERG P50 latency) was longer in POAG patients than in controls; no differences between patients with OHT and controls were observed. Moreover, we observed that in POAG the longer RCT was inversely related to the PERG amplitude. • Conclusion: Our results suggest that involvement of the innermost retinal layers in POAG is accompanied by slowed neural conduction in the visual pathways.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arai M, Yoshimura N, Sakaue H, Chihara E, Honda Y (1993) A 3-year follow-up study of ocular hypertension by pattern electroretinogram. Ophthalmologica 207: 187–195

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Atkin A, Bodis-Wollner I, Podos SM, Wolkstein M, Mylin L, Nitzberg S (1983) Flicker threshold and pattern VEP in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 24: 1524–1528

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bobak P, Bodis-Wollner I, Harnois C, Maffei L, Mylin L, Podos SM, Thornton J (1983) Pattern electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials in glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. Am J Ophthalmol 96: 72–83

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bray LC, Mitchell KW, Howe JW (1991) Prognostic significance of pattern visual evoked potentials in ocular hypertension. Br J Ophthalmol 75: 79–83

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bray LC, Mitchell KW, Howe JW, Gashau A (1992) Visual function in glaucoma: a comparative evaluation of computerised static perimetry and the pattern visual evoked potential. Clin Vision Sci 7: 21–29

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bucci MG, Parisi V, Rossini PM, Rizzo P (1988) A potenziali evocati visivi durante una indotta ipotensione oculare: utilità per una diagnosi precoce di glaucoma. Annali di Ottalmologia e Clinica Oculistica 12: 1225–1234

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bucci MG, Parisi V, Giannini R, Rossini PM (1991) Recordings of visual evoked potentials after photostress in artificially increased intraocular pressure. Clin Vision Sci 6:431–436

    Google Scholar 

  8. Busti A (1962) Elettroretinografia semplice a differenziata nel glaucoma. Boll Ocul 41: 339–349

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Celesia GG, Kaufmann D (1985) Pattern ERG and visual evoked potentials in maculopathies and optic nerve desease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 26: 726–735

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Celesia GG, Kaufman D, Cone SB (1986) Simultaneous recording of pattern elect roretinography and visual evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis. A method to separate demyelination from axonal damage to the optic nerve. Arch Neurol 43: 1247–1252

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Celesia GG, Bodis-Wollner I, Chatrian GE, Harding GFA, Sokol S, Spekreijse H (1993) Recommended standards for electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials. Report of an IFCN Committee. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 87: 421–436

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Chaturvedi N, Hedley-Whyte T, Dreyer EB (1993) Lateral geniculate nucleus in Glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 116: 182–188

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dandona L, Hendrickson A, Quigley HA (1991) Selective effects of experimental glaucoma on axonal transport by retinal ganglion cell to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32: 1593–1599

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Falsini B, Colotto A, Porciatti V, Buzzonetti L, Coppe' A, De Luca LA (1991) Macular flicker and pattern ERGs are differently affected in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Clin Vision Sci 6: 422–429

    Google Scholar 

  15. Feghali JG, Jin J, Odom V (1991) Effect of short-term intraocular pressure elevation on the rabbit electroretinogram. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32: 2184–2189

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fiorentini A, Maffei L, Pirchio M, Spinelli D, Porciatti V (1981) The ERG in response to alternating gratings in patients with diseases of the peripheral visual pathway. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 21: 490–493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Francois J, De Roux A (1959) L'electroretinographie daps le glaucome primaire. Ann Ocul Paris 192: 321–353

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Graham SL, Wong VAT, Drance SM, Mikelberg FS (1994) Pattern electroretinograms from hemifields in normal subjects and patients with glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 35: 3347–3356

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Gur M, Zeevi Y, Bielik M, Neumann E (1987) Changes in the oscillatory potentials of the electroretinogram in glaucoma. Curr Eye Res 6: 457–466

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Henkes HE (1951) The electroretinogram in glaucoma. Ophthalmologica 121: 44–45

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hollander H, Bisti S, Maffei L, Hebel R (1984) Electroretinographic responses and retrograde changes of retinal morphology after intracranial optic nerve section. A quantitative analysis in the cat. Exp Brian Res 55: 483–494

    Google Scholar 

  22. Holopigian K, Sieple W, Mayron C, Koty R, Lorenzo M (1990) Electrophysiologicaland psychophysical flicker sensitivity in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31: 1863–1869

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Holopigian K, Seiple W, Greenstein VC (1993) Electrophysiological evidence for outer retinal deficits in primary open angle glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 34 (Suppl): 1269

    Google Scholar 

  24. Howe JW, Mitkell KW (1986) Visual evoked cortical potential to paraventral retinal stimulation in chronic glaucoma, ocular hypertension and age-matched group of normal. Doc Ophthalmol 63: 37–44

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Iser G, Goodman G (1956) Clinical studies with fliker electroretinography. Am J Ophthal 42: 227–237

    Google Scholar 

  26. Johnson MA, Drum BA, Quigley HA, Sanchez RM, Dunkelberger GR (1989) Pattern-evoked potentials and optic nerve fiber loss in monocular laser-induced glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30: 897–907

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Komata M, Shirao Y, Watanabe M, Kawasaku K (1995) Delay of pattern electroretinogram peaks and its correlation to contrast threshold for motion perception in glaucoma. Ophthalmic Res 27: 110–117

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kothe AC, Lovasik JV (1989) Neural effects of transiently raised intraocular pressure: the pattern visual evoked potential and the pattern electroretinogram. Clin Vision Sci 4: 301–311

    Google Scholar 

  29. Lovasik JV, Kothe AC (1989) Neural effects of transiently raised intraocular pressure: scotopic and photopic electroretinogram. Clin Vision Sci 4: 312–321

    Google Scholar 

  30. Maffei L, Fiorentini A (1981) Electroretinographic responses to alternating gratings before and after section of the optic nerve. Science 211: 953–955

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Maffei L, Fiorentini A (1982) Electroretinographic responses to alternating gratings in the cat. Exp Brian Res 48: 327–334

    Google Scholar 

  32. Maffei L, Fiorentini A, Bisti S, Hollander H (1985) Pattern ERG in the monkey after section of the optic nerve. Exp Brian Res 59: 423–425

    Google Scholar 

  33. Marx MS, Bodis-Wollner I, Podos SM, Teitelbaun CS (1986) The pattern ERG and VEP in glaucomatous optic nerve disease in the monkey and human. In: Cracco QA, Bodis-Wollner I (eds) Evoked potentials. New York, Alan R Liss, Inc, 117–126

    Google Scholar 

  34. Marx MS, Podos SM, Bodis-Wollner I, Howard-Williams JR, Siegel MJ, Teitelbaun CS, Maclin EL, Severin C (1986) Flash and pattern electroretinograms in normal and laser-induced glaucomatous eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 27: 378–386

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Marx MS, Bodis-Wollner I, Lustgarten JS, Podos SM (1988) Electrophysiological evidence that early glaucoma affects foveal vision. Doc Ophthalmol 67: 281–301

    Google Scholar 

  36. O'Donaghue E, Arden GB, O'Sullivan F, Falcao-Reis F, Mariarty B, Hitchings RA, Spileers W, Hoggs C, Weinstein G (1992) The pattern electroretinogram in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Br J Ophthalmol 76: 387–394

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Parisi V, Bucci MG (1992) Visual evoked potentials after photostress in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33: 436–442

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Parisi V, Del Giudice R, Falleni C, Bramati M, Guinetti C, Pernini C, Macchi A (1995) L'esplorazione elettrofunzionale delle vie ottiche: metodiche e valori normativi. Riv Med Mil 3: 298–305

    Google Scholar 

  39. Pfeiffer N, Tillmon B, Bach M (1993) Predictive value of the pattern electroretinogram in high-risk ocular hypertension. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 34: 1710–1715

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Ponte F (1962) Reperti elettroretinografici e adattometrici nel glaucoma cronico nel miope elevato. Boll Ocul 41: 739–755

    Google Scholar 

  41. Porciatti V, Falsini B, Brunori S, Colotto A, Moretti G (1987) Pattern electroretinogram as a function of spatial frequency in ocular hypertension and early glaucoma. Doc Ophthalmol 65: 349–355

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Porciatti V, Falsini B, Fadda A, Bolzani R (1989) Steady-state analysis of the focal ERG to pattern and flicker: relationship between ERG components and retinal pathology. Clin Vision Sci 4: 323–332

    Google Scholar 

  43. Porciatti V, Moretti G, Ciavarella P, Falsini B (1993) The second harmonic of the electroretinogram to sinusoidal flicker: spatiotemporal properties and clinical application. Doc Ophthalmol 84: 39–46

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Quigley HA, Addicks M, Green WR (1982) Optic nerve damage in human glaucoma: III. Quantitative correlation of nerve fiber loss and visual deficit in glaucoma, ischemic neuropathy, disc edema and toxic neuropathy. Arch Ophthalmol 100: 135–146

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Quigley HA, Sanchez RM, Dunkelberger GR, L'Hernault NL, Baginski TA (1987) Chronic glaucoma selectively damages large optic nerve fibers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28: 913–920

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Quigley HA, Dunkelberger GR, Green WR (1988) Chronic human glucoma causing selectively greater loss of large optic nerve fibers. Ophthalmology 95: 357–363

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Quigley HA, Nickells RW, Kerrigan LA, Pease ME, Thibault DJ, Zack DJ (1995) Retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma and after axotomy occurs by apoptosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 36: 774–786

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Siliprandi R, Bucci MG, Canella R, Carmignoto G (1988) Flash and pattern electroretinograms during and after acute intraocular pressure elevation in cat. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 558–565

  49. Sokol S, Domar A, Moskowitz A, Schwartz B (1981) Pattern evoked potentials latency and contrast sensitivity in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Doc Ophthalmol Proc Ser 27: 79–86

    Google Scholar 

  50. Tetsuka S, Katsumi O, Metha M, Tetsuka H, Hirose T (1992) Effect of stimulus contrast on simultaneous steady-state pattern reversal electroretinogram and visual evoked response. Ophthalmic Res 24: 110–118

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Tomoda H, Celesia GG, Toleikis SC (1990) Effect of spatial frequency on simultaneous recorded steady-state pattern electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 80: 81–88

    Google Scholar 

  52. Towle V, Moskowitz A, Sokol S, Schwartz B (1983) The visual evoked potential in glaucoma and ocular hypertension: effect of check size, field size and stimulation rate. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 24: 175–183

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Trimarchi C, Biral G, Domenici L, Porciatti V, Bisti S (1990) The flash and pattern electroretinogram generators in the cat: a pharmacological approach. Clin Vision Sci 6: 19–24

    Google Scholar 

  54. Vanysek J (1956) Glaucoma in the electroretinographic picture. Zbl Ges Ophthalm 67: 33–37

    Google Scholar 

  55. Veagan, Graham SL, Goldberg I, Buckland L, Hollows FC (1995) Flash and pattern electroretinogram changes with optic atrophy and glaucoma. Exp Eye Res 60: 697–706

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Wanger P, Persson HE (1983) Pattern reversal electroretinograms in unilateral glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 24: 749–753

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Wanger P, Persson HE (1985) Pattern reversal electroretinogram in ocular hypertension. Doc Ophthalmol 61: 27–31

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Watanabe I, Iijinn H, Tsukahara S (1990) The pattern electroretinogram (PERG) in glaucoma: an evaluation by relative amplitude from the Bjerrum area. Br J Ophthalmol 73: 131–135

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Clinic, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Complesso Integrato Columbus, Rome, Italy

    V. Parisi

  2. Via Santa Maria Goretti 66, 1-00199, Rome, Italy

    V. Parisi

Authors
  1. V. Parisi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Parisi, V. Neural conduction in the visual pathways in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 235, 136–142 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00941720

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00941720

Keywords

Search

Navigation